Eastern Kentucky University College Portrait
Eastern Kentucky University521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475
859-622-1000
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University is a student-centered, comprehensive public university dedicated to high-quality instruction, service and scholarship. After 100 years of higher education on the Richmond campus, the University's role has grown far beyond its original mission of teacher education. With 168 degree programs, the University serves 16,000 students from 40 states and 30 countries on its beautiful main campus and at educational centers throughout the region, as well as via distance education and online. Intercollegiate and intramural sports, the fine and performing arts, plus more than 200 other campus organizations provide students with many opportunities to get involved in campus life, make new friends, and develop leadership skills.
Living in the Colonels Community
Our focus is on students, their needs, and their SUCCESS! We are a comprehensive university offering 168 degree programs and serving more than 16,000 students, yet we haven't lost that small-college feel. With a student-faculty ratio of just 17-1 and a strong emphasis on student success, EKU offers its students the personal attention they need to succeed. Classes are generally small. Our professors will take a genuine interest in how you're doing. There's no getting lost in the crowd here. You won't be just a face in the crowd when it comes to campus life, either. There's always something going on to capture your interest and help you make new friends. You can get involved in one of the 220 student organizations, play intramural sports (EKU offers over 50 varsity, club, and intramural sports), try out for a play or a musical group... whatever your interests are, there's something here for you. EKU offers the leading fitness and wellness facility of any university in Kentucky.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
| Total Students | 16,062 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 13,902 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 7,835 | 56% |
| Men | 6,067 | 44% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 50 | <1% |
| Asian | 165 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 792 | 6% |
| Hispanic | 236 | 2% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 25 | <1% |
| White | 11,878 | 85% |
| Two or More Races | 273 | 2% |
| International | 148 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 335 | 2% |
| Where do EKU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | 87% |
| Other US States & Territories | 12% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| How old are EKU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 23 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 25% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 19 - 24 | |
| Math | 17 - 24 | 430 - 550 |
| English | 18 - 24 | |
| Critical Reading | 430 - 550 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top of graduating class Data Not Available | ||
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.13 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 100% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $14,972.00
The cost to attend Eastern Kentucky University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 48% of full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $5,398.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 58% of full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,324.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
EKU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 16 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 83% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 96% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 680 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 52% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 13% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | <1% |
Campus-based Housing
<1% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
<1% of all undergraduates live on campus
Campus Safety
Eastern Kentucky University is committed to enhancing the quality of life by providing a safe and secure living, learning, and working environment through professional service to the community. Our goal is to create and maintain community partnerships in an effort to make campus safety an important cornerstone of the University. A proactive approach is taken towards maintaining a safe and secure campus by preventative patrols, community programs, and implementing safety initiatives, including a campus-wide emergency notification systems.
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate comprehensive
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at EKU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 90.0% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 49.0% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 23.0% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 82.0% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 17.0% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 47.0% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 48.0% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 6.0% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 92.0% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 97.0% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 76.0% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 61.0% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 97.0% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 61.0% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 80.0% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 98.0% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 74.0% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 66.0% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 88.0% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 45.0% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 87.0% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 88.0% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 85.0% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Eastern Kentucky University in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Associate's | 215 |
| Bachelor's | 2,135 |
| Master's | 692 |
| Doctoral | 4 |
| Total | 3,046 |
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| General Studies | 8% |
| Elementary Education and Teaching | 7% |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration | 7% |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 5% |
| Psychology, General | 4% |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 70% four-year success and progress rate means that 70% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 2,460 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 812 Full-Time Transfer Students
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 65%
Student Learning at Eastern Kentucky University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
Results from the College Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP)
The Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) measures critical thinking and written communication using two test modules -- critical thinking and a writing essay. The critical thinking and writing scores are reported separately below.
Critical Thinking Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in critical thinking skills is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 60.0
Senior Score: 63.0
CAAP score range: 40 to 80
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 22
Senior Score: 21
Writing Essay Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in written communication skills is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 2.89
Senior Score: 3.61
CAAP score range: 1 to 6
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 21
Senior Score: 21
Critical Thinking Results for Full-time Transfer Students
The increase in critical thinking skills is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 0.0
Senior Score: 0.0
CAAP score range: 40 to 80
Writing Essay Results for Full-time Transfer Students
The increase in written communication skills is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 0.0
Senior Score: 0.0
CAAP score range: 1 to 6