This fall, in a move to expand access to higher education, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) will be implementing a new tuition rate for out-of-state students, cutting its pricing by more than 40%. For the 2025-26 academic year, the out-of-state rate at EKU will be $12,000, only slightly more than the in-state rate of $10,440, making it one of the most affordable public universities in the country for non-resident students.
“At EKU, we’re constantly seeking innovative ways to reduce the barriers to education,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “From robust student support to free textbooks to now a straightforward tuition rate for out-of-state students, we make sure that the transformative opportunity of an EKU education is available and accessible for all students.”
According to U.S. News & World Report, the national average cost to out-of-state students pursuing a degree at a public university in the United States is $24,513. EKU’s new out-of-state rate costs less than half the national average.
EKU’s out-of-state tuition is consistently among the lowest in Kentucky and one of the most competitive rates in the country.
Traditionally an attractive option for out-of-state students, EKU previously provided an out-of-state discount for students who met a GPA requirement. For Fall 2024, EKU experienced an 8% increase in out-of-state new freshmen. In EKU’s spring 2025 graduating class, 42 states were represented. Expanding upon a commitment to accessibility and affordability, all undergraduate, on-campus out-of-state and international students will be charged at the new out-of-state rate of $12,000/year for the 2025-26 academic year, without having to meet the eligibility requirements of the previous discount.
The new rate is part of EKU’s ongoing commitment to remove financial barriers for students. EKU BookSmart provides free textbooks, reducing the total cost of attendance. In addition to cost-saving programs like EKU BookSmart and merit scholarships, the new out-of-state tuition rate aims to make higher education realistic and affordable for more students nationwide.
Data from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) highlights how minimizing the cost of attendance empowers students to graduate sooner and with significantly less debt. A 2024 report shows that the average student loan balance for graduates of Kentucky public institutions has fallen by nearly 33% over the past five years. Nearly 60% of undergraduates completed a credential in the 2023-24 academic year without accruing student loan debt. Additionally, Kentucky’s six-year completion rate now exceeds the national average.
EKU was named a 2025 “Opportunity College and University” by the Carnegie Foundation, a national distinction that highlights institutions providing higher-than-expected levels of student access and post-graduation earnings. EKU was the only comprehensive university in Kentucky to receive this designation in its category.
Additionally, EKU is now the largest regional public university in the state for degree-seeking student enrollment, as of Fall 2024.
By Ethan Sirles
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