EIU Media Relations

EIU Again Ranked Among Best in Class by U.S. News & World Report

For the seventh consecutive year, Eastern Illinois University has been named one of the top Midwestern public universities in its class by U.S. News & World Report.

EIU is ranked 10th among all Midwestern public universities offering a full range of undergraduate degrees and some master’s degree programs. EIU is the only Illinois public university in the top 12.

The findings are part of the magazine’s 2007 edition of “America’s Best Colleges,” which is to appear on newsstands Monday. The information is also available online at www.usnews.com.

“We are very proud to once again be ranked among the best in our class,” said EIU President Lou Hencken. “Our success is a direct result of our caring, hardworking faculty and staff working with our outstanding students. I commend them all for excelling at what they do.”

The Midwest region encompasses Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Rankings are based on schools’ academic reputations, student selectivity, faculty resources, graduation and retention rates, financial resources and alumni giving.

Among EIU’s highlights is that only 5 percent of all classes have 50 or more students, despite record enrollment. In addition, EIU touts a graduation rate of 62 percent, the second-highest among all Illinois public universities.

“Our focus on personal attention is a big part of what makes this university stand out, and I’m proud of all of the people here who make Eastern Illinois University shine,” Hencken said.