Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIU) vs Eastern Illinois University (EIU)
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIU-C) and Eastern Illinois University (EIU) are two public universities located in Illinois, each with its own unique strengths and characteristics. SIU-C, with an acceptance rate of 84%, is slightly more selective than EIU, which has an acceptance rate of 90%. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors including business, education, and nursing. SIU-C has a larger student body, with over 12,000 undergraduate students compared to EIU's 7,000. Additionally, SIU-C has a higher graduation rate, with 58% of students completing their degrees within six years compared to EIU's 49%. To help you make an informed decision about which university is the right fit for you, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these and other key differences between SIU-C
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![]() Eastern Illinois University |
![]() Southern Illinois University-Carbondale |
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Overview |
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Location | Charleston, Illinois | Carbondale, Illinois |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | City: Small |
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% | 75.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 71.7% | 95.1% |
Application fees | $30 |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$65
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SAT range | 900 - 1140 | 930 - 1160 |
ACT range | 17 - 23 | 20 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 56.0% | 43.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 66.0% | 18.0% |
Total number of applicants | 7,145 | 6,987 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,126 | 6,648 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 778 | 1,422 |
Yield rate | 15.2% | 21.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not 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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$29,903 |
Average net price | $13,669 | $15,976 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,472
Out of state:
$11,840
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$9,638 |
Room & board | $10,548 |
Room/dormitory:
$6,292
Meal plan:
$4,330
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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 |
91.0%
Average amount $13,301 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
62.0%
Average amount $5,140 |
55.0%
Average amount $5,362 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $10,570 |
8.0%
Average amount $12,619 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,903
Men 40.6% Women 59.4% |
8,147
Men 51.4% Women 48.6% |
Graduate students |
1,705
Men 37.5% Women 62.5% |
3,119
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 9.6% | 17.5% |
International students | 4.6% | 7.7% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 4,304 | 4,492 |
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 | Illinois Missouri Indiana Tennessee Wisconsin |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 50.7% | 45.3% |
Dropout rate | 15.9% | 53.2% |
Transferred out | 32.6% | N/A |
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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Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Architecture (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
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