Eastern Illinois University (EIU) vs Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Eastern Illinois University (EIU) and Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (SAU) are two distinct institutions of higher learning with unique characteristics. EIU, located in Charleston, Illinois, boasts a higher acceptance rate (86%) compared to SAU's 78%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with EIU excelling in fields like Business, Education, and Health Professions, while SAU shines in areas such as Business, Education, and Nursing. EIU's student body is predominantly White (64%) and female (56%), while SAU's student population is more diverse, with a higher percentage of African American (34%) and male (52%) students. In terms of graduation rates, EIU has a slightly higher four-year graduation rate (30%) compared to SAU's 26%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects
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![]() Eastern Illinois University |
![]() Southern Arkansas University Main Campus |
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Overview |
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Location | Charleston, Illinois | Magnolia, Arkansas |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Town: Remote |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 74.0% | 64.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 71.7% | 62.6% |
Application fees | $30 | $25 |
SAT range | 900 - 1140 | 930 - 1140 |
ACT range | 17 - 23 | 18 - 25 |
Students submitting SAT score | 56.0% | 10.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 66.0% | 100.0% |
Total number of applicants | 7,145 | 2,813 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,126 | 1,761 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 778 | 632 |
Yield rate | 15.2% | 35.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$25,316
Out of state:
$27,684
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In state:
$26,411
Out of state:
$31,631
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Average net price | $13,669 | $14,141 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,472
Out of state:
$11,840
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In state:
$6,750
Out of state:
$11,970
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Room & board | $10,548 |
Room/dormitory:
$4,340
Meal plan:
$3,444
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $10,756 |
98.0%
Average amount $8,861 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
62.0%
Average amount $5,140 |
50.0%
Average amount $5,247 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $10,570 |
3.0%
Average amount $8,817 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,903
Men 40.6% Women 59.4% |
3,160
Men 43.4% Women 56.6% |
Graduate students |
1,705
Men 37.5% Women 62.5% |
1,274
Men 35.2% Women 64.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 9.6% | 28.0% |
International students | 4.6% | 7.5% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 4,304 | 2,032 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Illinois Indiana Ohio Missouri Texas | Arkansas Texas Louisiana Oklahoma Alabama |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 50.7% | 40.1% |
Dropout rate | 15.9% | 23.3% |
Transferred out | 32.6% | 35.5% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
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