77.61%

Acceptance Rate

$8,628

Avg.Financial Aid

001963

FAFSA Code

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Report Card

Selectivity
77.6% acceptance rate
Academics
C
50% graduation rate
Class Size
C
15:1 student-faculty ratio
Value
B+
$21,230 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

Key Facts: Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)

Institution
Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)
Type
Public

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified July 2026. Citable source →

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)

  • Type Control of Institution - Public/Private

    Public

  • Acceptance Rate:

    N/A

  • Level

    4 Years

  • Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.

    Not applicable

  • Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.

    SACSCOC

  • Website

    www.eku.edu
  • Student Population Number of Students attending College

    12,318

  • On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?

    Yes

EKU is a public institution and has 4 campuses two located in the east region Manchester, Hazard, and one each in Lancaster and Corbin in the central and south region of Kentucky.

Their main campus in 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky, Eastern has a distinguished record of more than a century of educational service to the Commonwealth.

Purpose/Motive – EKU seeks to provide intellectual and cultural opportunities that will develop habits of scholarship and intellectual curiosity, provide a deep understanding of American democracy and the citizen's role in maintaining its strength and vitality, impart an understanding of humans and their aspirations, enable effective and efficient communication, and prepare productive and responsible citizens.

The University will remain responsive and flexible in order to serve in unique and needed ways.

Within these general responsibilities and purposes, the University is dedicated to three specific functions -- high-quality instruction, scholarship, and service, and places emphasis on the three in that order. Through its colleges and schools, the University seeks to offer quality instruction at a variety of degree levels in general education, the arts, the sciences, business, education, pre-professional and professional areas, and applied and technical disciplines. 

Through consultative services, continuing education, and the extended campus, the University seeks to provide service to the community and the region. The research seeks both to advance knowledge in the subject matter areas with which the University is concerned and to support the primary function of teaching.

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in Richmond, Kentucky, was originally established as a normal school in 1906 in the wake of a landmark education law passed by the Kentucky General Assembly. The school was built on a campus that had housed Central University, a southern Presbyterian institution.

Today, EKU continues to offer students a quality education and strives to meet the diverse needs of its student body.

  • The institute offers a total of 131 programs across various majors.

  • Accreditation- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

  • The student population is around 15815.

There is a public university in Richmond, Kentucky called Eastern Kentucky University. At Eastern Kentucky University, around 81% of the students are 24 and under. And, when it comes to gender distribution at the varsity, around 57% of the students are females and 43% are males. Finally, at EKU around 84% are white, 6% are Black or African American, and 4% belong to Hispanic ethnicity. Chad Bratzke, Steve Pence, Silas House, and Tom Colbert are some of the well-known alumni of the school. Several other achievers owe their success to this university. The school believes in the all-round growth of the students and, hence encourages students to take part in several sporting activities, conducted inside the campus. Students taking admission here will notice that the university boasts of a decent sports infrastructure. A total of 447 programs, including both residential and online, are currently offered by EKU. The university also has a long list of accreditations. It has been accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

Location & Contact

Address

521 Lancaster Ave, Richmond, Kentucky

Contact

Phone: (859) 622-1000
Find Your School

Rankings

The ranking of a particular university helps a student decide where to apply, which is always a tough decision. The ranking of a university is a great way to gauge its performance on several factors like research excellence, the performance of its students after graduation, student experience, and academic success. Usually, the rankings by Forbes and US News are considered noteworthy by applicants and experts. Eastern Kentucky University doesn't feature in the list of top colleges, according to the latest rankings of these two publications.

Admissions

  • Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.

    FALSE

  • Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.

    77.61%

  • SAT Range

    1020 - 1190

  • SAT/ACT

    Required

  • ACT Range

    20 - 26

  • High School GPA

    Required

  • Application Fee

    $35

  • Accept Common App

    None

The students can make the most out of the admission process as the admission at the university is fairly easy. The varsity has 4 admission thresholds. The admission process starts by filling up the form and submitting a fee of $35. As per the past trends, the SAT score of a student must lie in the range of 990-1170 to improve her chances. A candidate, in order to take admission to Eastern Kentucky University, must score 23 in her ACTs. But, in certain cases, those having ACT scores less than 20 are also given admission. The application process can be completed online. However, if needed, one can also visit the office at 521 Lancaster Ave, Richmond, Kentucky 40475-3102, or call (859) 622-1000.

Annual Cost to Attend

  • Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.

    $11,040

  • Average Annual Cost

    $10,320

Additional Costs:

  • Books And Supplies

    $23,706

  • Other Fees

    $670

  • Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.

    $10,040

  • Budget For Other Expenses

    $2,800

Total One Year Cost

$23,706

Before applying to EKU, candidates must keep in mind the tuition fees and the cost of living during the course tenure. The full-time cost of attendance is approximately $30,288 per year. If it sounds unaffordable to the applicant, there are numerous financial aid options available that they can explore.

Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

NA

Student:Faculty Ratio

15:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

77%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

30%

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

$112

Faculty Overview

49%

Male Professors

51%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Majors

Most Popular Majors:

  • Criminal Justice and Corrections

    336 Graduates

  • Registered Nursing, Administration,...

    296 Graduates

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General...

    280 Graduates

  • Psychology, General

    165 Graduates

  • Quality Control and Safety Technolo...

    97 Graduates

  • Teacher Education and Professional...

    80 Graduates

  • Fire Protection

    79 Graduates

  • Social Work

    78 Graduates

  • Quality Control and Safety Technolo...

    97 Graduates

  • Teacher Education and Professional...

    80 Graduates

  • Fire Protection

    79 Graduates

  • Social Work

    78 Graduates

  • Public Health

    64 Graduates

  • Teacher Education and Professional...

    63 Graduates

  • Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Prof...

    59 Graduates

  • Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facil...

    55 Graduates

  • Homeland Security

    55 Graduates

  • Biology, General

    54 Graduates

  • Accounting and Related Services

    51 Graduates

  • Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervent...

    47 Graduates

  • Marketing

    46 Graduates

  • Chemistry

    43 Graduates

  • Fine and Studio Arts

    43 Graduates

  • English Language and Literature, Ge...

    35 Graduates

  • Special Education and Teaching

    34 Graduates

  • Health and Physical Education/Fitne...

    33 Graduates

  • Insurance

    32 Graduates

  • Communication Disorders Sciences an...

    31 Graduates

  • Public Relations, Advertising, and...

    30 Graduates

  • Agricultural Production Operations

    30 Graduates

  • Computer and Information Sciences,...

    30 Graduates

  • Business/Commerce, General

    29 Graduates

  • Human Development, Family Studies,...

    29 Graduates

  • Geography and Cartography

    28 Graduates

  • Health and Medical Administrative S...

    28 Graduates

  • Business Administration, Management...

    27 Graduates

  • Legal Support Services

    27 Graduates

  • History

    26 Graduates

  • Political Science and Government

    25 Graduates

  • Construction Management

    25 Graduates

  • Communication and Media Studies

    24 Graduates

  • Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science...

    22 Graduates

  • Wildlife and Wildlands Science and...

    21 Graduates

  • Air Transportation

    20 Graduates

  • Foods, Nutrition, and Related Servi...

    20 Graduates

  • Industrial Production Technologies/...

    20 Graduates

  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and...

    19 Graduates

  • Specialized Sales, Merchandising an...

    19 Graduates

  • Radio, Television, and Digital Comm...

    18 Graduates

  • Management Information Systems and...

    18 Graduates

  • Music

    18 Graduates

  • Finance and Financial Management Se...

    16 Graduates

  • Anthropology

    14 Graduates

  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement,...

    13 Graduates

  • Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Ot...

    12 Graduates

  • Sociology

    11 Graduates

  • Computer Engineering Technologies/T...

    11 Graduates

  • Engineering-Related Fields

    11 Graduates

  • Statistics

    10 Graduates

  • American Sign Language

    9 Graduates

  • Journalism

    9 Graduates

  • Economics

    8 Graduates

  • Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosc...

    8 Graduates

  • Mathematics

    8 Graduates

  • Physics

    7 Graduates

  • International/Global Studies

    7 Graduates

  • Philosophy

    3 Graduates

  • Agriculture, Agriculture Operations...

    3 Graduates

  • Applied Horticulture and Horticultu...

    3 Graduates

  • Engineering, Other

    2 Graduates

  • Engineering-Related Technologies

    2 Graduates

  • Graphic Communications

    2 Graduates

  • Natural Resources Conservation and...

    2 Graduates

Show More

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

13,398

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

39%

Full-time / Part-time

78% / 22%

Students Gender

Male

42%

US National: 44%

Female

58%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

85%

Unknown

1%

Black

6%

Hispanic

3%

Two or more races

3%

Non Resident alien

1%

Asian

1%

American Indian/Alaska native

0%

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

0%

Geographic Density

Geographic Density

High

0%

Unknown Location

11%

Out Of State

88%

In State

1%

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$47,617 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and N/A of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

No

Freshmen Live on Campus

N/A

Undergrads in College Housing

N/A

Averege Housing Cost

$5,648/year

Campus Food

The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $4,392/year.

Meal Plan Available

Yes

Average Meal Plan Available

$4,392/year

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

Colonels

School Colors

N/A

Varsity Athletics Association

NCAA

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

Ohio Valley Conference

Total Male Athletes

226

Total Female Athletes

127

Intramural Sports

N/A

Sports Club

N/A

Sports Team (Men)

Baseball

Basketball

Cross Country

Football

Golf

Track and Field

Sports Team (Women)

Basketball

Cross Country

Golf

Soccer

Softball

Track and Field

Volleyball

Beach Volleyball

Campus Security

Students who want to enjoy the campus and lodging life can benefit from the on-campus housing facility provided by EKU. At EKU, $10,476 is the normal expense for on-campus housing, which a student will be needed to pay, each year. Eastern Kentucky University has several dining and meal plan options for its students and the average meal plan at EKU costs around $4,392 per year. The university has enrolled around 43% male and 57% female students.

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$29,800/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$36,100/year

Median Total Debt After Graduation The median cumulative federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated.

$12,000 - $31,229

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

$125 - $324

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Financial Aid

Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid.

98%

Average Aid Per Year

$8,628

Students Receiving Federal Grants

49%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,619

Students Receiving State Aid

87%

Average Aid Per Year

$2,507

Students Receiving Institutional Grants

60%

Average Aid Per Year

$6,650

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Income

Average Amount

< $30K

$10,476

$30K - $48K

$10,532

$48K - $75K

$7,889

$75K - $110K

$5,777

> $110K

$5,033

As mentioned, if one finds the fees and cost of living at EKU to be on the higher side, the financial aid department of the varsity would be of huge assistance. They can assist students with scholarships, grants, and student loans as well. The average financial aid at Eastern Kentucky University is around $6,357 and the federal grant is $4,607. The university provides financial assistance in the form of state-level aid worth $2,530 and institutional aid worth $6,357.

Frequently Asked Questions About Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)

How hard is it to get into Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)?

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 77.6%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) cost?

Tuition at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is approximately $21,230 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)?

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) enrolls approximately 12,318 students across its programs.

What is the graduation rate at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)?

The graduation rate at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is 50%, reflecting the percentage of students who complete their degree within the standard timeframe.

What is the student-faculty ratio at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)?

The student-faculty ratio at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is 15:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

What SAT and ACT scores do I need for Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)?

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) typically admits students with SAT scores in the range of 440-530 (Reading) and 440-550 (Math) and ACT composite scores of 19-25. Check the admissions office for the most current testing requirements and whether test-optional policies apply.

Is Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) a public or private university?

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is a public institution.

When is the application deadline for Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)?

Application deadlines at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

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