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Eastern Kentucky University
Most applicants get into Eastern Kentucky University — 77.6% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Eastern Kentucky University anchors the college town of Richmond, KY, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, where graduates median $92,289 four years out. Faculty pay averages $93,912 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 12,318 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 76.9% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 930 and 1190 — near the KY middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Eastern Kentucky University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 930–1190 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Eastern Kentucky University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 480 | 530 | 600 |
| SAT Math | 450 | 525 | 590 |
| ACT Composite | 17 | 21 | 24 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Eastern Kentucky University received 17,082 applications and admitted 13,340 (78.1%), with 2,782 enrolling.
How Eastern Kentucky University compares
| Eastern Kentucky University | Kentucky median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 77.6% | 79.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,320 | $26,625 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $45,795 | $45,036 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Eastern Kentucky University student earns $45,795 — 2% above the Kentucky median of $45,036 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Eastern Kentucky University prices by residency: $10,320 in-state versus $21,230 out-of-state — a $10,910 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
Eastern Kentucky University enrolls 12,318 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Eastern Kentucky University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
50% graduate within six years. Roughly 50% don't — ask a Eastern Kentucky University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Eastern Kentucky University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $92,289 |
| Construction Management | $88,120 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $83,920 |
| Fire Protection | $80,497 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $77,992 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $68,774 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $68,249 |
| Homeland Security | $67,096 |
| Air Transportation | $66,943 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $66,530 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $63,685 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $63,533 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $59,838 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $59,609 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $57,724 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $55,570 |
| Marketing | $53,559 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | $53,450 |
| Chemistry | $52,216 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $51,386 |
| Public Health | $51,086 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $50,818 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $49,272 |
| Biology, General | $48,327 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $47,882 |
| Social Work | $46,705 |
| Political Science and Government | $43,786 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $43,352 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $41,893 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $41,877 |
| Psychology, General | $41,384 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $41,368 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $40,149 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $39,921 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $38,991 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $38,951 |
| Music | $37,673 |
| American Sign Language | $36,755 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $35,365 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $35,203 |
Median earnings for these 40 Eastern Kentucky University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $45,795 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 26 additional Eastern Kentucky University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Eastern Kentucky University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 930–1190 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 77.6% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Eastern Kentucky University's acceptance rate?
78.1% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 13,340 admitted from 17,082 applicants.
How much does Eastern Kentucky University cost?
In-state tuition is $10,320; out-of-state students pay $21,230. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Eastern Kentucky University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $45,795 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Kentucky
- Campbellsville University — 79.7% admitted
- Asbury University — 63.4% admitted
- Alice Lloyd College — 75.2% admitted
- Kentucky Wesleyan College — 71.6% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.