Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Richmond, Kentucky. It enrolls 12,318 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
74/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes45
Value85
Affordability80
Selectivity40
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 77.6%, Eastern Kentucky University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
77.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
880 – 1080
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Eastern Kentucky University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
15.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Eastern Kentucky University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $11,040 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,040
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
41%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
41%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$10,320
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$21,230
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,268
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,268
Books & Supplies
$0
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,650
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,675
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,735
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,591
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,005
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,382
$75,001 – $110,000
$14,384
Over $110,000
$17,009
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,26610%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$22,500Medianpercentile
$26,25075%percentile
$37,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,791
↓ $6,709
No Pell $12,696
↓ $9,804
Dependent students $14,023
↓ $8,477
Independent students $17,142
↓ $5,358
Female students $15,000
↓ $7,500
Male students $14,750
↓ $7,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($22,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
41% of full-time students who enrolled at Eastern Kentucky University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
41%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $45,795 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,795
Earning > $25K
74%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,500, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
18.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 78% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Eastern Kentucky University is home to 12,318 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
12,318
Part-Time
14%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 79.7%9,817
Black 6.9%845
Hispanic 5.6%695
Other 5.3%654
Asian 1.1%129
International 0.7%84
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Eastern Kentucky University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantRichmond, Kentucky
Housing
Partly residential4,688 beds available
Adult Learners
100%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Eastern Kentucky University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
117 distinct programs across
26 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Eastern Kentucky University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,171
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$88M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,692
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
501 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
165
33%
$75,211
Associate Professors
127
25%
$69,061
Assistant Professors
134
27%
$67,531
Instructors
3
1%
$74,155
Lecturers
45
9%
$54,390
No Rank
27
5%
$56,121
Pros & Cons of Eastern Kentucky University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Eastern Kentucky University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Best for:
Based on the data, Eastern Kentucky University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Eastern Kentucky University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Eastern Kentucky University.
Is Eastern Kentucky University hard to get into?
Eastern Kentucky University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Eastern Kentucky University?
Eastern Kentucky University has an acceptance rate of 77.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Eastern Kentucky University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Eastern Kentucky University scored between 880 and 1080 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Eastern Kentucky University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Eastern Kentucky University scored between 19 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Eastern Kentucky University cost?
The average net price after aid at Eastern Kentucky University is $11,040 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Eastern Kentucky University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,795 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,040 per year. That's roughly 4.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Eastern Kentucky University known for?
Eastern Kentucky University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Eastern Kentucky University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Eastern Kentucky University are $45,795, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Eastern Kentucky University accredited?
Yes. Eastern Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Eastern Kentucky University?
Eastern Kentucky University enrolls 12,318 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Eastern Kentucky University?
Eastern Kentucky University graduates 41% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Eastern Kentucky University a public or private college?
Eastern Kentucky University is a Public institution.
Where is Eastern Kentucky University located?
Eastern Kentucky University is located in Richmond, Kentucky.
What programs does Eastern Kentucky University offer?
Eastern Kentucky University offers 117 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Criminal Justice, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Eastern Kentucky University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Eastern Kentucky University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Kentucky
Other colleges in Kentucky share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Information Systems
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Teacher Education (K-12)
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Rankings That Feature Eastern Kentucky University
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