EIU Media Relations

EIU ranked Top 4 in nation for Best Value by College Consensus

National value ranking, historic State budget increases make EIU a first-choice option for Illinois students and families

(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University’s commitment to affordable education has earned the Charleston, Illinois university a top national ranking.

College Consensus, which combines results from highly respected college ranking systems and leverages thousands of real student reviews to create its annual list, recognized Eastern Illinois University as a Top 4 Best Value university in America for 2022. EIU is one of only two Illinois institutions of higher education listed in its top 100.

“With the burden of student debt at an all-time high, getting a college degree at a reasonable cost is more important to students and families than ever,” says College Consensus founder Jeremy Alder. “By listing the top schools in order of affordability, our ranking of the Best Value Colleges & Universities allows students to instantly see what are the best schools at the best price.”

Student debt is a frequently cited as a consideration for prospective college and university students and their families. According to EIU administrators, EIU’s national fourth-place value ranking, combined with a fiscal year 2023 Illinois budget passed April 19 that increases higher education appropriations by $248.5 million—works to “let Illinois students and families know they are getting receiving an unparalleled value in education right here at EIU,” said Josh Norman, associate vice president of Enrollment Management at EIU.

“As we enter the college decision season, this ranking further confirms Eastern Illinois University is the right choice for our future students and their families,” Norman added.  “One of our missions at EIU is to make the university experience affordable and accessible to all students, and this ranking reinforces our commitment to that goal. I’m thrilled EIU is included in this prestigious list, but I’m even more excited our affordability will create opportunities for even more of our students to succeed.”

At fourth, Eastern ranked behind only Brigham Young University, Western Carolina University, and Ferris State University for value in the nation.

For more information about enrolling at Eastern Illinois University, visit www.eiu.edu.

For more general information about EIU, or to learn more about its growing assortment of programs and services, visit the university’s website at www.eiu.edu, or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.