All incoming freshman students must submit a $150 New Student Enrollment Deposit. After submitting your Enrollment Deposit, you will have the opportunity to sign up for your Orientation date, which is when you will register for your first EIU classes! Orientation dates become available each spring for students enrolling in the fall. You can submit your Enrollment Deposit, and sign up for Orientation, by logging into your MyEIU account.

Submit Deposit | Learn more about Orientation

About the Enrollment Deposit

An enrollment deposit is required from every first-time freshman undergraduate student (excluding transfer students) accepted and is applied to the first-term bill (tuition and fees).
Fall and Summer: Students can pay the enrollment online through their MyEIU account. The enrollment deposit is due by May 1 or if admitted after May 1, within 10 working days after notification of admission. Deposits may be accepted after this time but may result in delayed processing of the student’s account.

Spring: Students must submit the enrollment deposit (pdf) to the Cashier’s Office by Dec. 1 or if admitted after Dec. 1, within 10 working days after notification of admission. Deposits may be accepted after this time but may result in delayed processing of the student’s account.

Refund of Enrollment Deposit

Fall and Summer: The enrollment deposit is 100 percent refundable for fall and summer enrollees prior to May 1 and 50 percent refundable prior to June 1, provided that the Admissions Office is notified in writing (email is sufficient) of the student's intention not to enroll. After June 1, the deposit is not refundable.

Spring: For spring enrollees, the enrollment deposit is 100 percent refundable prior to November 15 and 50 percent refundable prior to December 15, provided that the Admissions Office is notified in writing (email is sufficient) of the student's intention not to enroll. After December 15, the deposit is not refundable.

Deferment of Enrollment Deposit

Students meeting one of the criteria on the Request for Deferral of Enrollment Deposit Form – please have your high school counselor complete the form and email it to admissions@eiu.edu.

Freshman students are required to live on campus for their first year, and many choose to stay on campus for their second year as well! With 10 different residence hall options for you to live in, we know you will find exactly what you are looking for at EIU!

Now that you are admitted to Eastern Illinois University, you can complete your housing application on your MyEIU account. Complete your application early so you’re more likely to get the residence hall you want to live in. Some of our halls fill up fast, so we encourage you to complete this as soon as you know you want to be an EIU Panther!

The housing application includes a $50 non-refundable application fee. Once you have completed your housing application, you will be able to complete the room and board contract, when it becomes available each spring. On your room and board contract, you will select which residence hall you want to live in, which meal plan option you would like, and if you have a roommate request. We encourage all of our incoming students to complete the room and board contract by May 1.

Complete your Housing Application
Complete your Room & Board Contract
Learn more about our housing options
New student timeline

All students who want to receive Federal, State, or some forms of Institutional aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will need to complete the FAFSA as soon as it is available the year before you plan to enroll. 77% of our students receive some form of financial aid to assist with their education. We are here to help!

Submit FAFSA | Learn more about Financial Aid

Check out scholarships, grants and competitive scholarships just for incoming first-year students.

First-Year Student Scholarships

During your Orientation, you will meet with an academic advisor, register for classes, receive your Panther ID Card, and meet other Future Panthers.

Our New Student and Family Programs Office is also here to help you transition during your first semester and plans various activities during move-in weekend and the first six weeks of the semester. We are all here to help you make an easy transition to EIU!

Register for Orientation
Learn more about Orientation and move-in activities