EIU Media Relations

EIU Board of Trustees Approves 2015-2016 Tuition and Fees Rates

Eastern Illinois University’s Board of Trustees approved a 2.1 percent increase in the cost of tuition and fees for the 2015-2016 academic year.

This comes following a one-year rate freeze.

The resident tuition rate will increase from $283 to $285 per semester credit hour for entering students.  This means that those with an average 15-course academic load will pay $4,275 per semester – an increase of $30.

Additionally, incoming resident undergraduates will be able to lock in the new tuition rate for four continuous academic years as provided by the state’s “Truth in Tuition” Law.

Students from any of the states that border Illinois – Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin – pay resident tuition rates and benefit from the same four-year guarantee, as well.  The same applies for undergraduates who live beyond the seven-state area but who can demonstrate exemplary academic records.

All remaining out-of-state undergraduate students will pay $356 per semester hour as determined by a multiplier of 1.25 against the in-state cost.  This is a decrease from $849 per credit hour, which represented a multiplier of 3.

“This will give us some extra leverage in terms of recruiting out-of-state students, especially international students,” said EIU President Bill Perry.

Non-resident graduate students will pay $684 per semester hour.

Fees will increase a total of $6.30 per credit hour for all students.

University officials consider a number of factors, such as the potential level of state funding, estimated increases in financial obligations, projected enrollment, Consumer Price Index data, and the impact of previously implemented cost containment measures, before determining a tuition recommendation to the board.

“We proposed to our Board of Trustees a tuition rate that enables continued investment in the quality of our programs, while maintaining our commitment to affordability and access to a university education,” Perry said.