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Ohio Valley Conference

Eastern Illinois University SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements

SAT Range900 to 1130

ACT RangeN/A

Average GPA3.36

Acceptance Rate65.3%

Eastern Illinois is test-optional, but the SAT range gives you a useful decision rule rather than a hurdle. With a 3.36 average GPA and 65% acceptance rate, strong grades can carry real weight; an SAT near or above 1130 is worth submitting, while a score closer to 900 should be weighed against your full record.

Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.

Eastern Illinois University facts and stats

Quick Facts

Eastern Illinois University enrolls about 6,785 undergraduates in a small-town campus setting. Eastern Illinois has a 71% freshman retention rate, slightly above the national average of roughly 70%, and a 48% six-year graduation rate. The student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1.

Location

Charleston, IL

Undergrad Enrollment6,785

Freshman Retention71%

SettingSmall town

Student to Faculty Ratio14:1

Graduation Rate48%

Test PolicyTest-optional

How do your scores compare at Eastern Illinois?

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Key Eastern Illinois University application dates

Key dates

Application deadlines

Regular Decision

August 12

Early Action

Not offered

Early Decision

Not offered

Priority Deadline

—

Financial aid deadlines

Financial Aid Priority

December 15

Test dates

SAT test dates

August 22, 2026

Registration deadline: August 7, 2026

September 12, 2026

Registration deadline: August 28, 2026

October 3, 2026

Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

ACT test dates

September 19, 2026

Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

October 17, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026

December 12, 2026

Registration deadline: November 6, 2026

Take tests early for the best outcomes

If you choose to submit scores to test-optional Eastern Illinois, take your first SAT or ACT by the spring of junior year and use the summer before senior year for any retake. Eastern Illinois’s Regular Decision deadline is August 12, so fall senior-year retakes will be too late for this deadline.

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What you'll actually pay

Eastern Illinois, a public university in the Ohio Valley Conference, lists in-state tuition at $10,151 and out-of-state tuition at $10,151. About 66% of students receive aid, with an average merit award of $3,595. Submit the FAFSA by the December 15 priority deadline for financial aid consideration.

In-State Tuition$10,151

Out-of-State Tuition$10,151

Room and Board$11,862

Average Merit Award$3,595

Application FeeN/A

Students on Aid66%

Average Aid Package$17,899

Average Debt at Grad$27,015

Eastern Illinois’ tuition is $10,151, with room and board adding $11,862 before books, fees, and personal expenses. Financial aid is common: 66% of students receive aid, and the average aid package is $17,899. Merit awards average $3,595, which can further reduce the billed cost for students who qualify. Graduates leave with an average debt of $27,015.