EIU ranked #3 in the country for affordable college education

Finding a college that offers a solid academic education that won't put students under a mountain of school debt is a growing concern parents and their college-bound offspring. College Consensus has curated a list of schools ranked according to the most recent out-of-state tuition & fee information published by the National Center for Education Statistics.
Photo: Xin Wang/Unsplash

According to College Consensus, Eastern Illinois University in Charleston ranks #3 out of 100 schools across the country for an affordable college education.

Pursuing a college degree is now, more than ever, an expensive, but necessary journey. On average across most career fields, adults with college degrees stand to rake in a lot more money, more than 60% more according to NCES data, than those who don't continue their education after high school. Regardless of one's age, gender or race, a college degree is crucial to earning potentially more money during your lifetime.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average tuition rate for public universities in 2017-2018 academic year was more than $20,000; by contrast, 30 years earlier, the same education would have cost $3800. But everything was cheaper in 1985 – except that, adjusted for inflation, 1985 tuition was less than $8500 in 2018 dollars. Tuition continues to rise faster than inflation.

Education debt is second largest consumer debt class in the Unite States behind real estate mortgages. The average recent graduate is more than $37,000 in student debt.

This alone makes it a priority to find college programs that are reasonably priced and focuses on teaching market-ready skills for current in-demand professions.

The top three schools in the Best Value Colleges and Universities ranking for 2021 are (1) Brigham Young University--Provo, (2) North Dakota State University, and nearby Eastern Illinois University at #3. The next 97 ranked schools can be found here.

To create their ranking of the 100 Best Value Colleges & Universities, College Consensus created a list and ordered schools based on the most recent out-of-state tuition & fee information published by the National Center for Education Statistics.

EIU, which offers Bachelor’s Degrees, post-baccalaureate Certificates, Master’s Degrees and Doctorates in over 60 programs, scored well due to both in-state and out-of-state tuition runs $10,000 less than the average cost of all the 4-year schools that were evaluated.

Also making the list was Illinois State University at #93 and the University of Missouri - St. Louis at 100.

3rd quarter Unity Junior Honor Roll students named


Today, Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved honor roll status during the third quarter. Congratulations to the 91 students who earned the requisite grade point average to celebrate the honor. See the names of UJHS students who made the quarter's High Honor Roll list here.


6th Grade Honor Roll

Wyatt Leon Blanchard
Paige Nicole Bradley
Aiden Jacob Sharples Brooks
Clare Faustina Bryant
Brody Ray Butler
Cadence Marie Chandler
Braedyn Lucas Dalton
Addison Tyler Davis
Reese Bella Frye
Journey Maddison Gabbard
Olivia Ashlyn Hall
Walker Dale Hall
Dustin Rose Harris
Mackenzie Michelle Jones
Kathryn Clara Knoll
Rush Matthew Little
Carson Wesley McCune
Landrey Michelle Mohr
Brooklyn Marie Mumm
Sadie Jane Polonus
Evan Alexander Puckett
Max Warren Rossi
Lane Edward Sexton
Alyssa Renae Shields
Isaac Benjamin Siegwald
Jackson Leo Smith
Madison Amanda Spohn
Jacob Michael Ward
Maggie Jean Weckle
Grace Ann Wherley
Kendall Grace Wysong
Joel Mitchell Yergler

7th Grade Honor Roll

Aria Eve Battaglia
Cameryn Dayle Cobb
Kaylee Marie Cooke
Annaliese Birtukan DeNeal
Crewe William Gene Eckstein
Collin William Graven
Kenley Jo Harris
Brayden Jonathon Henry
Tyler Jason Henry
Caden Maddox Hensch
Lucas Alexander Hood
Tyler Reed Huntington
Faith Lyn Lampe
Maxwell Cort McCabe
Travis Lane McCarter
Deakin Frederick Moore
Carter Matthew Pieczynski
Dallas Jordan Porter
Kyla Lanae Reed
Jillian Brooke Schlittler
Liana Grace Sheets
Lauren Patricia Stratton
Ian John Taber
Olivia Danielle Tempel
Sophia Louise Jean Toney
Evan Eugene Vlahovich

8th Grade Honor Roll

Avery Jean Alagna
Elizabeth Marie Anderson
Emmerson Matthew Bailey
Michael Allan Bromley
Bentten Matthew Cain
Josephine Rose Cler
Jacob Ivan Davidson
Ezekiel De Los Santos
Nathaniel Gojam DeNeal
Hunter Michael Eastin
Alexis Rae Gady
Faith Marianne Hall
McKenzie June Hart
Caleb James Hoewing
Andrew Jason King
Elias Anthony Eugene Lawlyes
Isabella Cassandra Matthews
Maliyah Marie Ortiz
Taylor Aiyana Marie Prough
Oliver Mason Hyeok Joon Rawlings
Korben Dale Ray
Nolan Scott Remole
Ryan James Robinson
Brock Jacob Schlittler
Grant James Steinman
Owen Michael Taylor
Jacob Howell Thomas
Gavin Henry David Weaver
Maddie Hillary Kay Wheeling
Jordan Jeanne Whittington
Teaguen Andrew Williams
Tessah Rae Williams
Lauren Anne Williams-Scroggins



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