public, coeducational university in Charleston, east-central Illinois, U.S. It was founded in 1895 as Eastern Illinois State Normal School and became a state teacher's college in 1921. Renamed Eastern Illinois State College in 1947, it was elevated to university status in 1957. Total enrollment is about 11,000.

The university is composed of the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences and the Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Sciences, and Education and Professional Studies. It also includes a graduate school and offers adult and continuing education courses at several cities throughout the state. Master's degree programs are available in a range of areas, and specialist degrees in education and school psychology can be earned.