EIU Housing Costs

$12,282 On-Campus Room Typical Cost

$1,944 On-Campus Meals Typical Cost

$150 Books & Supplies Typical Cost

$2,768 Other Living Expenses Typical Cost

Living Expenses and How They Compare at EIU?

Understanding all of the expenses related to attending college can allow you to make the best decision at Eastern Illinois University.

On this page you will find:

Living Expenses Outline
Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses
Meal Plans and Housing Requirements
References

Room and Board Expenses at EIU

This school charges students for housing and dining together as a bundle. The cost of living on campus for a typical student was about $11,862 in 2026. When you add it all up, a typical on-campus student at Eastern Illinois University can expect to spend about $17,144 in 2026 after factoring in housing, meals, books and other essentials.

The table below shows the expected costs of on-campus and off-campus housing and dining plans for Eastern Illinois University.

Expense	On Campus	Off Campus
Room and Board	$14,226	$14,056
— Housing	$12,282
— Meals	$1,944
Other Living Expenses	$2,768	$2,768
Books and Supplies	$150	$150
Total	$17,144	$16,974

Will You Spend Four Years On Campus? Projected Four-Year Cost: $72,809

Room and board is a moving target: it tends to creep up every year you are enrolled. A forward look helps you avoid sticker shock later in your degree.

Carried across a typical four-year degree, room, board and other living costs add up to about $72,809 in room, board and other essentials.

This is how on-campus room and board has tracked over the last few years, plus a forward projection, at Eastern Illinois University.

Year	Room & Board
Three Years Ago	$13,090
Two Years Ago	$13,546
One Year Ago	$14,066
Most Recent Year (2026)	$14,226
One Year From Now *	$14,637
Two Years From Now *	$15,060
Three Years From Now *	$15,496
Four Years From Now *	$15,944

* estimated

On-campus room and board has trended up an average of 2.9% per year. Based on current trends, incoming freshmen can expect to pay about $17,555 in their first year.

Projected forward, the last year of a four-year degree runs about $18,862 for a four-year (bachelor’s) degree, and about $17,978 for the last year of an associate degree.

Over the entire degree (assuming you graduate on time), the total comes to about $72,809 for a four-year degree, versus about $35,533 for a two-year stay.

Build In Yearly Cost Growth

Expect modest annual increases in room and board, and factor that growth into your long-term budget.

Meal Plans and Housing Requirements at EIU

Schools may offer meal plans where the number of meals per week can vary. This school offers meal plans based on the number of meals per week. See the table below to find out the number of meals per week in the maximum meal plan offered. The table below outlines what this school reports about on-campus housing.