EIU Media Relations

EIU extends “Decision Day” from May 1 to June 1

Extension accommodates FAFSA transition, supports EIU’s commitment to students & families

(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University is extending its annual “Decision Day” from May 1 to June 1 in a move EIU leaders say will better support prospective students and families with their transition to higher education following recent changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

“To best serve our prospective students and their families, EIU is extending its ‘Decision Day’ date from May 1 to June 1,” said Josh Norman, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at EIU. “This extension also applies to the eligibility date for all of EIU’s major institutional scholarship programs.”

According to Norman, this response is a proactive approach by EIU that addresses unexpected complications in the FAFSA process following recent changes to the program. Extending Eastern’s “Decision Day” date to June 1 will minimize concerns for prospective students and families as they navigate the College Choice process this year by providing additional time to consider their financial aid award letters.

While scholarships offered at the time of admission now feature extended deadlines, deadlines for scholarships accessible through Academic Works, Eastern Illinois University's platform for EIU Foundation-managed scholarships, may diverge. To ensure timely application submission, students are urged to review individual deadlines via the Academic Works portal at eiu.academicworks.com.

Norman also said “Despite the challenging circumstances surrounding the FAFSA filing process, we have been getting glowing feedback about the support provided to students by our Office of Financial Aid. The Office of Financial Aid will continue to be an excellent resource for any student or family member who is having difficulty in the process.” EIU’s Office of Financial Aid can be reached via email at finaid@eiu.edu or via phone at (217) 581-6405.

EIU continues to represent an incredible value for students seeking to pursue their higher education, with the lowest cost of attendance of any public University in the state of Illinois, and has already offered prospective students over fifteen million dollars in merit scholarships alone. EIU’s merit scholarships complement Eastern’s 15 other scholarship programs for new incoming Freshman and Transfer students which can be found at the University’s newly revamped scholarship site at eiu.edu/scholarships.  

EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at 217-581-7400.