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Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond , KY

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is a public institution located in Richmond, Kentucky. Established in 1906, EKU is recognized for its strong academic programs and commitment to student success. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1, EKU offers a personalized learning experience and fosters close relationships between students and their professors. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across various disciplines, including arts and sciences, business and technology, health sciences, education, and justice and safety.

EKU takes pride in providing its students with a dynamic and engaging learning environment. The university offers a range of resources, including state-of-the-art facilities, research opportunities, and internships to enhance studentsÆ educational experiences. EKU is also renowned for its strong commitment to community engagement and regional outreach. The university contributes significantly to the development and welfare of the local area through collaborative partnerships and initiatives that address the community's needs.

EKU offers a vibrant campus life filled with numerous extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations that cater to diverse interests and passions. Students can engage in leadership development, participate in community service, and explore cultural events and entertainment. Additionally, EKU competes in the NCAA Division I as part of the Ohio Valley Conference, providing opportunities for student-athletes to excel both in academics and athletics.

Overall, Eastern Kentucky University provides a well-rounded and enriching educational experience. With a strong focus on academic excellence, personalized attention, and community engagement, EKU prepares students for successful careers and meaningful contributions to society.

Eastern Kentucky University is a public university located in Richmond, KY. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 96%. The freshman retention rate at Eastern Kentucky University is 76.93% and the six-year graduation rate is 55%.

For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 5.

Read more about what you can expect if you get into Eastern Kentucky University.

Quick Facts

13,448

Total Number of Undergraduate Students

18:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

55%

Graduation Rate

Admissions

If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Read on to find out some important facts about admission policy and requirements at Eastern Kentucky University.

According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 8,731 in 2025. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.

Test Scores

Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 2.8% and ACT scores 87.17%. 2.56% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 15.38% between 1,200 and 1,399, 47.43% between 1,000 and 1,199, 30.76% of the students between 800 and 999, and 3.84% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 4.66, 24.21 between 24-29, 45.86 in the range between 18-23, 24.7 between 12-17, and 0.58 between 6-11.

The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.36. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.

Average Test Scores

Deadlines

The last day for submitting applications to Eastern Kentucky University is August 1. If you are applying for a transfer, note that the application deadline is July 5.

Retention Rate

The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university freshmen who return for their sophomore year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.

As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Eastern Kentucky University was 76.93%, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.

The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 55%.

Student Body

Choosing a school that is the best place for you is not a simple task. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by getting to know more about the student body.

Main Student Body

The total number of students enrolled at Eastern Kentucky University in 2025 was 15,673.

The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 12.54% for that year. There was a total of 13,448 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 84 international students. The school admitted a total of 994 transfer students.

Student Population Gender Ratio

The student body is coeducational, with 4,455 male and 6,858 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. 286 full-time graduate men and 496 full-time graduate women attended this school.

Student Population Diversity

Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.

In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 129, and the number of Black American students was 845. 695 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 620 identified with more than one race. The school also had 10 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 25 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 94 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Cost

The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Eastern Kentucky University.

Tuition and Fees

If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Eastern Kentucky University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.

According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $10,020 for area residents. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $22,240. For international students, tuition fees at this school stood at $20,930. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $1,260 in 2025.

Category Tuition Fees Total
Out-of-State $22,240 $1,260 $23,500
In-State $10,020 $1,260 $11,280

Boarding

Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?

In 2025, room and board cost at Eastern Kentucky University amounted to $12,268 a year. If you only needed a dorm room, it cost $6,750 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $8,410.

Tuition $ 10,020
Room and Board $ 12,268
Total Expense $ 22,288

Financial Aid

Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for most students. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Eastern Kentucky University, here are some recent data you should consider.

The most recent records show that 1,916 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $14,956.99.

Need-based

Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.

There were 5,638 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 7,497. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $40,043,273, and state $35,587,468. The students of Eastern Kentucky University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $24,399,183, and external in the amount of $1,591,667.

$8,547

Average Amount of Aid Received

Non-Need Based

Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.

5,699 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 1,798 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $40,043,273 while the state aid is $26,229. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $13,553,763. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $617,109 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).

Majors

Faculty

18:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.

According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Eastern Kentucky University was 18:1: that means 18 students per one teacher. According to the most recent information, there are 1,081 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 433 men and 648 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Eastern Kentucky University.

Student Population Diversity Graph

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100
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100

Campus Life

Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about students' life at Eastern Kentucky University.

Its campus is 500 acres in size.

Student Organizations

Engaging with a variety of student organizations can enrich your educational experience and make it more rewarding.

There are 160 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. At this school, 8% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 6 for female students. Other popular organizations among the students at Eastern Kentucky University are Regular Society and Honor Society.

If you are interested in music, you can join the Eastern Kentucky University band or chorus. If you're a fan of the performing arts, there is a drama club you can get involved in. You have a passion for media and communication? Eastern Kentucky University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.

Student Services

At Eastern Kentucky University, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.

There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The late-night transport/escort service is available.

This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Eastern Kentucky University.

All in all, campus life at Eastern Kentucky University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.

Career Services

Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Eastern Kentucky University.

Career Counselling

At Eastern Kentucky University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.

FAQ

Eastern Kentucky University is located in Richmond, KY.

This school uses standardized test scores for admission.

The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Eastern Kentucky University is 96%.

The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Eastern Kentucky University is 76.93%.

Contact Information

Eastern Kentucky University

521 Lancaster Avenue

Richmond , KY

40475-3102

859 622-1000

School Website

Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.

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