Eastern Illinois University

Eastern Illinois University's published cost of attendance is $26,996. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $9,828, middle-income families pay around $11,412, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,027.

Azimuth ranks Eastern Illinois University #274 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Eastern Illinois University uses need-based aid to bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,781; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $53,620, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn median 4-year earnings of $53,620, placing Eastern Illinois University in the 13.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,450 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Eastern Illinois University in the 27.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Eastern Illinois University #1114 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect a student body distributed across applied and professional fields, where early-career earnings vary by major choice but remain competitive within the regional labor market.

The earnings pattern centers on business and applied disciplines. Psychology, General is the largest program with 112 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $49,478, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field.

The General Studies program graduates 102 students earning $52,078 four years after enrollment, while Teacher Education and Kinesiology round out the top programs with 84 and 70 graduates respectively. The concentration in Business — representing a substantial share of the degree output — aligns with stable regional employer demand in fields like accounting, management, and administrative services, where graduates move into positions with predictable salary growth trajectories.

Eastern Illinois University's program mix is anchored in Business and applied professional fields. Psychology, General is the largest program with 112 graduates annually, followed by General Studies, Teacher Education, Kinesiology, and Biology, General.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 1,116 students annually, several deliver solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. Digital Marketing leads the earnings profile, with graduates earning median earnings of $62,994 four years after enrollment.

Communication and Media Studies follows with median earnings of $57,887, and Interdisciplinary Studies delivers median earnings of $54,791. These programs reflect Eastern Illinois University's strength in career-focused fields where graduates move directly into the workforce.

Psychology, General, the institution's largest program, earns median earnings of $49,478, demonstrating that scale and earnings strength align in this field. The institution's program portfolio emphasizes applied pathways where four-year earnings reflect direct labor-market entry rather than graduate-school-dependent trajectories.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Eastern Illinois University's dominant program families align with regional workforce needs in the Midwest. For students prioritizing early-career earnings and stable employment pathways, the concentration in Business and related professional fields offers predictable financial outcomes.