Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Eastern Illinois University graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout the early career period. Median earnings increase from $42,694 six years after enrollment to $48,019 at eight years, then reach $51,989 at ten years, representing consistent upward trajectory.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $21,500 in debt with typical earnings.
Eastern Illinois University graduates carry median debt of $21,500, closely aligned with the peer median of $21,105, indicating typical borrowing patterns for similar institutions. Debt levels span from $8,250 at the 25th percentile to $27,000 at the 75th percentile, showing moderate variation in borrowing needs among students.
Eastern Illinois University demonstrates around the national average performance in return on investment, ranking at the 44.4th percentile nationally. Graduates earn $2,057 beyond expectations compared to similar students, placing the university in the 63.9th percentile for value-added earnings and qualifying as above average on this key measure.
Approximately 21.0% of Eastern Illinois graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Program-level earnings demonstrate Eastern Illinois's strength in business and technical education. Banking and Financial Support Services leads with $70,590 median earnings, while Accounting Technology produces $70,108, both representing exceptional outcomes for graduates in these specialized fields.
Chemical Engineering Technology achieves $66,937 earnings with #18 national ranking, demonstrating technical program excellence. Biology graduates earn $54,609, providing solid outcomes for students in health-related career preparation.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes at Eastern Illinois University show moderate variation that supports diverse career pathways. The spread from $35,825 at the 25th percentile to $72,492 at the 75th percentile creates a 2.0:1 ratio, indicating reasonable upside potential without extreme inequality.
