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Eureka College

EC

Eureka, Illinois 61530

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Tight-knitCollege townGreek life

Known for business — close-knit campus

Eureka College is a private town institution in Eureka, Illinois. The school is accessible to a wide range of students.

A small campus of 522 undergraduates with a 14:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

41% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $51,641 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $22,048.

Established
1855
Motto
The Moment of Discovery
Type
Private college
Division
Division III

Campus Visits

46 upcoming visits · Next: Fri, May 29 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

88%Acceptance
SAT Avg
522Students
14:1Student:Faculty
41%Grad Rate
$51,641Earnings 10yr
$22,048Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate88.5%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$28,400
Room & Board$10,542
Books & Supplies$1,200
Total Cost of Attendance$38,518
Average Net Price$22,048
Median Debt at Graduation$23,250
Monthly Payment (10yr)$246

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$21,076
$30–48K$22,074
$48–75K$24,524
$75–110K$22,111

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

66.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

2.3%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$15,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

3

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

0

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

1

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (30)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

63%

Below Average

Student Body

Undergrads
522
Gender Split
49% / 51%
Women / Men
First Generation
34%
Pell Grant Recipients
23%

Race & Ethnicity

White 68%
Black 12%
Hispanic 10%
Two+ 3%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate40.6%
Freshman Retention63.1%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$42,968
10 Years$51,641

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Basketball

History & Fun Facts

  • History The college was founded in 1848 by a group of abolitionists who had left Kentucky because of their opposition to slavery and was originally named the Walnut Grove Academy.
  • Eureka College campus in 1909 When the school was founded, it was the first school in Illinois (and only the third in the United States) to educate women on an equal basis with men.
  • In 1856, Abraham Lincoln spoke on campus, making Eureka one of only three colleges where Lincoln spoke.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

97Average

Estimated from IL state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 30"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Chicagopop. 2.7M
117 mi(203 min)
St. Louispop. 290K
152 mi(263 min)
Milwaukeepop. 570K
175 mi(303 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

ORD Chicago O'Hare112 mi
STL St Louis148 mi
MKE Milwaukee170 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA947 mi · ~27h 21m drive
New York, NY798 mi · ~23h 3m drive
Hartford, CT864 mi · ~24h 58m drive
Providence, RI929 mi · ~26h 50m drive
Albany, NY810 mi · ~23h 24m drive
Syracuse, NY693 mi · ~20h 1m drive
Rochester, NY622 mi · ~17h 58m drive
Buffalo, NY555 mi · ~16h 2m drive
Philadelphia, PA744 mi · ~21h 30m drive
Pittsburgh, PA487 mi · ~14h 4m drive
Harrisburg, PA651 mi · ~18h 48m drive
Newark, NJ790 mi · ~22h 49m drive
Washington, DC661 mi · ~19h 6m drive
Baltimore, MD677 mi · ~19h 33m drive
Atlanta, GA551 mi · ~15h 55m drive
Charlotte, NC595 mi · ~17h 11m drive
Raleigh, NC669 mi · ~19h 20m drive
Miami, FL1157 mi · ~33h 25m drive
Orlando, FL952 mi · ~27h 30m drive
Tampa, FL963 mi · ~27h 49m drive
Nashville, TN342 mi · ~9h 53m drive
New Orleans, LA745 mi · ~21h 31m drive
Richmond, VA670 mi · ~19h 21m drive
Chicago, IL117 mi · ~3h 23m drive
Detroit, MI341 mi · ~9h 51m drive
Minneapolis, MN357 mi · ~10h 19m drive
St. Louis, MO152 mi · ~4h 23m drive
Kansas City, MO303 mi · ~8h 45m drive
Indianapolis, IN177 mi · ~5h 7m drive
Columbus, OH334 mi · ~9h 39m drive
Cleveland, OH398 mi · ~11h 30m drive
Milwaukee, WI175 mi · ~5h 3m drive
Dallas, TX688 mi · ~19h 53m drive
Houston, TX831 mi · ~24h drive
Austin, TX864 mi · ~24h 58m drive
San Antonio, TX937 mi · ~27h 4m drive
Los Angeles, CA1648 mi · ~47h 37m drive
San Francisco, CA1775 mi · ~51h 17m drive
San Diego, CA1632 mi · ~47h 9m drive
Seattle, WA1692 mi · ~48h 53m drive
Portland, OR1705 mi · ~49h 15m drive
Denver, CO831 mi · ~24h drive
Phoenix, AZ1349 mi · ~38h 58m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1181 mi · ~34h 7m drive
Honolulu, HI4169 mi · ~120h 26m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

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