East Carolina University
#4 Best Education Colleges in North Carolina- Graduation Rate
- 62% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $55,146 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $15,739 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 89% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Education Colleges in North Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,298,076.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 35% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.1%
- Top 94%
- Patents
- 16
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 117
- Downstream influence
Why East Carolina University Matters
East Carolina University is a public research university in Greenville, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 19,896
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences
Why students choose East Carolina University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 89% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1070–1240. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,739 a year after grants and scholarships — 8% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $55,146 ten years after enrolling — 35% above the typical college, against $22,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 66% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.43 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With nearly 20,000 students, East Carolina University serves a diverse population looking for a practical and supportive college experience. The school is particularly strong in fields like Business and Marketing, Health Professions, Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Education, and Social Sciences. These programs cater to students aiming for careers that make a tangible difference in their communities, often prioritizing hands-on learning and real-world applications.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average salary of $55,146 within ten years. This figure is a solid indicator of the value of an ECU degree in the job market. The school’s affordability is also a plus, with a net price of $15,739 after financial aid. This makes it accessible for many students, especially those who might be concerned about financial burdens after completing their education.
The median debt for graduates is $22,750, which is manageable given the earnings potential. Students who thrive here often appreciate the balance of academic rigor and community support. Many come from diverse backgrounds and find a welcoming environment that helps them succeed, both during their studies and as they launch into their careers.
Rankings
- #4 Best Education Colleges in North Carolina
- #6 Best Business Colleges in North Carolina
- #6 Best Nursing Colleges in North Carolina
- #6 Best MBA Programs in North Carolina
- #7 Best Online Colleges in North Carolina
- #8 Best Colleges in North Carolina
- #8 Best Bachelor's Programs in North Carolina
- #8 Best Master's Programs in North Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective East Carolina University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into East Carolina University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Greenville, North Carolina, East Carolina University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,180. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Retention Rate
- 83%
- SAT Average
- 1180
- SAT Range
- 1070–1240
- ACT Range
- 21–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 77%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,595
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.58
- First-Gen Students
- 26%
- Applicants
- 21,383
- Admitted
- 19,744
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard East Carolina University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 17% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 17%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 10%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 23%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 33% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend East Carolina University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at East Carolina University is $23,638, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,739. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,046 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,361
- Out-of-State
- $23,638
- Avg Net Price
- $15,739
- Median Debt
- $22,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 39%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,046
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,699
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,904
- Family Income $110K+
- $23,028
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at East Carolina University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is East Carolina University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of East Carolina University earn a median of $55,146, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $46,420
- 8 Years
- $51,582
- 10 Years
- $55,146
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.41x
- Earning > $25K
- 70%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,735)
- 42%
- 100% (1,735)
- 42%
- 100% (1,735)
- 42%
- 100% (1,735)
- 42%
How East Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is East Carolina University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, East Carolina University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,739/year ($62,956 total). Graduates earn $55,146 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,361,032 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,298,076 (21.6× your investment). The median debt is $22,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $62,956
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,361,032
- Net Return
- $1,298,076
- ROI Multiple
- 21.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,739
- Median Debt
- $22,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does East Carolina University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
East Carolina University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.19%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $96,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.19%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 19.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $130,430
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
East Carolina University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 16 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.11%
- Top 94% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 16
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 117
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields East Carolina University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 22% $64,906 early-career
- Health Professions 16% $71,368 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 8% $38,577 early-career
- Social Sciences 7% $42,202 early-career
- Psychology 6% $35,702 early-career
- Education 5% $45,685 early-career
- Communications 5% $41,439 early-career
- Humanities 4% $32,391 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for East Carolina University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into East Carolina University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Greenville, North Carolina, East Carolina University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,180. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend East Carolina University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at East Carolina University is $23,638, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,739. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,046 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,750 in federal student loans.
Is East Carolina University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of East Carolina University earn a median of $55,146, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does East Carolina University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
East Carolina University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.19%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $96,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is East Carolina University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at East Carolina University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.43, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Is East Carolina University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 33% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at East Carolina University (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at East Carolina University?
About 17% of admitted students choose to enroll at East Carolina University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to East Carolina University.
- West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV · Close peer63% grad $55,939 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ · Close peer59% grad $54,384 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE · Close peer66% grad $56,887 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, GA · Close peer53% grad $53,236 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI · Close peer63% grad $57,624 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Grand Valley State UniversityAllendale, MI · Close peer68% grad $56,118 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is East Carolina University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at East Carolina University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.43, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note