Eastern is now offering in-state tuition rates to prospective undergraduate students from any of the 50 states in the country through Eastern’s new Out-of-State Distinguished Rate Program.

Previously, Eastern had only offered in-state tuition rates to students who lived in Illinois’ bordering states: Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Prospective students from anywhere in the U.S. who have a 3.0 or higher grade point average are now eligible for the in-state tuition rates.

“Universities throughout Illinois and across the country continue to compete for the best and brightest students available,” said Josh Norman, associate vice president for enrollment management, in a press release. “EIU has the lowest cost of attendance among downstate public universities in Illinois. This new program provides greater access to the incredible value an EIU education represents, while also delivering on our brand promises of accessibility and affordability to those beyond our traditional service region.”

Public Information Coordinator Josh Reinhart said in a press release that university officials are devoted to ensuring that Eastern’s affordability continues to attract prospective students all across Illinois but also reaches to students outside of the state.

Reinhart said the number of students who have chosen to attend Eastern from outside of Illinois have quadrupled in the past decade.

Out-of-state students who are admitted into the program will also benefit from the same room and board fee rates in addition to the tuition rates that the native Illinois students receive.

The new program brings hope to Eastern’s administration that enrollment will continue to increase as it has the past two years, Reinhart said in the press release.

Eastern’s enrollment was up 3.7 percent total headcount from 7,526 in Fall 2018 to 7,806 in Fall 2019, followed the 7.1 percent increase in Fall 2018 from the 7,030 students in Fall 2017.

Hannah Shillo can be reached at 581-2812 or hlshillo@eiu.edu.