Eastern Illinois University (EIU) vs University of Central Arkansas (UCA)
Eastern Illinois University (EIU) and University of Central Arkansas (UCA) are two public universities with distinct characteristics. EIU, located in Charleston, Illinois, has an acceptance rate of 86%, while UCA, situated in Conway, Arkansas, boasts a slightly higher acceptance rate of 90%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors including Business, Education, and Nursing. EIU's student body is predominantly White (68%) and female (56%), while UCA's student population is more diverse, with a larger proportion of African American (20%) and Hispanic (12%) students. In terms of graduation rates, UCA has a slightly higher four-year graduation rate (33%) compared to EIU's 29%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more. Explore the table to discover which
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![]() Eastern Illinois University |
![]() University of Central Arkansas |
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Overview |
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Location | Charleston, Illinois | Conway, Arkansas |
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% | 71.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 71.7% | 92.4% |
Application fees | $30 |
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$45
|
SAT range | 900 - 1140 | 980 - 1160 |
ACT range | 17 - 23 | 19 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 56.0% | 3.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 66.0% | 94.0% |
Total number of applicants | 7,145 | 6,057 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,126 | 5,595 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 778 | 1,854 |
Yield rate | 15.2% | 33.1% |
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 | 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:
$25,219
Out of state:
$32,089
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Average net price | $13,669 | $14,042 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,472
Out of state:
$11,840
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In state:
$6,870
Out of state:
$13,740
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Room & board | $10,548 |
Room/dormitory:
$4,326
Meal plan:
$3,570
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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 |
92.0%
Average amount $7,693 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
62.0%
Average amount $5,140 |
51.0%
Average amount $5,106 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $10,570 |
5.0%
Average amount $10,426 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,903
Men 40.6% Women 59.4% |
8,244
Men 39.0% Women 61.0% |
Graduate students |
1,705
Men 37.5% Women 62.5% |
1,861
Men 26.6% Women 73.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 9.6% | 7.9% |
International students | 4.6% | 3.8% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 4,304 | 3,675 |
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 Oklahoma Tennessee 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% | 49.4% |
Dropout rate | 15.9% | 19.1% |
Transferred out | 32.6% | 29.7% |
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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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Library Science, Other (Master's Degrees)
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
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