Why EIU???
here are the reasons to attend...

Academics

• Eastern's academic reputation is nationally recognized.
• In 2006, for the seventh consecutive year, EIU was named one of the top Midwestern public universities in its class by U.S. News & World Report.
• Eastern is the only public university in Illinois listed in the first tier of four tiers of 142 institutions in the "Best Universities-Master's (Regional/Midwest)".
• Students may choose from 45 major courses of undergraduate study and a comprehensive range of master's degree programs.
• Degrees are offered through four colleges:
  • College of Arts and Humanities
  • College of Business and Applied Sciences
  • College of Education and Professional Studies
  • College of Sciences

Small Classes

• Average class size is 22.
• Eastern's faculty to student ratio is 1:16.
• Small classes promote student learning and satisfaction with the EIU experience.

Faculty

• Over 500 full time (87%) faculty members.
• 69% of full time faculty are tenure track.
• Senior faculty, rather than graduate students, teach the vast majority of freshmen and sophomore courses.

Academic Assistance

• All freshmen students are assigned to the Academic Advising and Academic Success Center.
• The Center helps students decide on academic programs and provides information concerning academic policy and procedures.

Reputation

• Nearly 99 percent of surveyed Eastern graduates say they have a positive attitude toward the University.
• List class size, faculty attitude toward students, and instruction in the major as strengths.
• Eastern's admission standards and its graduation and retention rates are the second highest among public universities in Illinois (after the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign).

Retention Rate

• Eastern's freshman-to-sophomore retention rate is 78.3% (national average is 73.6%).
• The freshman-to-sophomore retention rate for minority students is 80%.

Graduation Rate

• Eastern's six-year graduation rate is 62.2% (national average is 54.3%).

Campus Size

• Slightly more than 12,000 students attend each semester
• Approximately 90% full time
• 320-acre campus
• 72 buildings, including 12 residence halls and 17 apartment buildings

Location

• EIU is one of seven residential public universities in Illinois.
• Located in Charleston, a rural community of 20,000 residents in east-central Illinois
• Only 135 miles east of St. Louis, 180 miles south of Chicago and 120 miles west of Indianapolis.

Low Crime Rate

• EIU has its own police force of 20 officers.
• EIU is one of the safest public universities in Illinois and also one of the safest campuses in the United States.

Cost of Education

• Eastern is ranked among the nation's top 100 public universities for quality and value.
• EIU's total costs are consistently below the national average for four-year public colleges (College Board Survey),
• Eastern maintains student room and board rates that are among the lowest of the state universities in Illinois.

Textbook Rental

• EIU is one of the few universities that still rents textbooks to students.
• Cost for this service included in tuition and fees.
• Depending upon your major, you may save as much as $400-600 per year.

Housing

• More than 4,000 student live in on-campus housing.
• Studies show that students who live in university residence halls are more likely to graduate and have higher grade point averages than those who live off-campus.

Career Services

• Career Services maintains a close liaison with hiring representatives from education, business, industry and government in order to provide the most current information about hiring trends and desired qualifications.
• The office assists students and graduates build networks, gain job knowledge, secure internships and job shadowing opportunities, and ultimately obtain full-time professional positions.
• It is recommended that students develop a relationship with their career advisor as early as their freshman year for all undergraduate students and in their first semester for graduate degree candidates.

Athletics

• Eastern competes at the NCAA Division IAA in football and at level I in all other sports.
• 22 men's and women's varsity teams, allowing students to participate in or attend many sporting events.
• University athletes provide an immense source of pride and enjoyment for the entire region.

Student Recreation

• A student recreation center serving more than 2,000 students daily features six indoor basketball/volleyball courts, a large fitness center with aerobic and body part machines and a 1/8-mile jogging track; a free-weight area; an aerobic/multi-purpose room; a dance studio and a lobby/lounge.
• Campus Recreation offers intramural sport and informal recreation programs for all students regardless of skill level.
• Intramural sport activities include nine team sports, 20 special events and five racquet sports.

Student Organizations

• Eastern has more than 150 recognized student organizations offered on Eastern's campus.
• Includes 26 fraternities and sororities through Greek Life.
• Departmental clubs, student government, minority student organizations, and student programming board also offered.

Transportation

• A student-funded shuttle bus, "The Panther Express," transports students to and from classes and local businesses.
• Eastern also offers weekend bus service to and from the Chicago area.