Charleston has a population of 20,000 and lies eight miles east of interstate 57 on Illinois Route 16. Eastern's campus is located at the south edge of Charleston on 320 beautiful acres of landscaped grounds and is home for more than 10,000 students of which approximately 2,000 of those are graduate students. What is now Eastern Illinois University was established in 1895 as Eastern Illinois State Normal School. During the next 63 years, the school's name changed three additional times before attaining University status in 1957. Over sixty campus buildings display a variety of architectural styles.
All buildings are within easy walking distance and being made fully accessible.
Adjacent to the central campus lie a number of recreational fields,a campus pond, wooded tracts and a jogging trail. Eastern Illinois University serves as the primary cultural center for the area. Plays, concerts, art exhibitions, lectures, and symposia are a regular part of campus life. Many off-campus cultural activities are also held regularly, for example, poetry readings, historical reenactments, community theatre, group discussions, and more. The University's mission is toprovide superior yet accessible undergraduate and graduate education in thearts, sciences, humanities, and professions.