EIU Again Ranked as Top Illinois Public Regional University
Sep-18-2017USNWR’s latest rankings strengthen EIU’s reputation for excellence in the Midwest
Eastern Illinois University continues to be the highest-ranking Illinois school among the Midwest’s top public regional universities, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 annual college ranking.
EIU also ranked in the top 30 scores of all Midwestern regional institutions offering a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs, according to U.S. News and World Report’s yearly edition of “Best Colleges.” EIU remains the highest-ranking public university in Illinois on that list and ranks eighth in the entire Midwest in its class, which encompasses a 12-state territory including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Rankings are based on schools’ academic reputations, student selectivity, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources and alumni giving.
“EIU’s sustained distinction in U.S. News and World Report’s annual ranking is an enduring testament to Eastern’s academic quality, student life opportunities, and comprehensive value,” said EIU President David Glassman. “We fuse academic excellence with a first-rate student experience, which makes EIU an extraordinary institution fully committed to the success of its amazing students.”
The U.S. News and World Report rankings rely heavily on EIU’s focus on personal attention and friendly, family-like atmosphere. For example, the student-faculty ratio stands at just 14:1, and only 3 percent of EIU’s classes have 50 or more students. In addition, EIU continues to celebrate the highest freshman retention rate and the highest graduation rate among all Illinois public universities in its class.
