Elizabeth City State University
#1 Best HBCUs- Graduation Rate
- 46% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,026 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $6,364 A-
- 63% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 64% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 38.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $38.7 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best HBCUs.
Every $1 spent returns $38.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $958,935.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 46% — 20% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 3.88% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $38.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Elizabeth City State University Matters
Elizabeth City State University is a public college in Elizabeth City, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 1,975
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, Transportation, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Elizabeth City State 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
Competitive — admits about 64% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 920–1080. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,364 a year after grants and scholarships — 63% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,026 ten years after enrolling — 2% below the typical college, against $21,463 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 4% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.01 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 1,975 students, Elizabeth City State University offers a welcoming environment for those looking to study fields like Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Transportation, and Psychology. The acceptance rate of 64% means that many students can find a place here, especially those who value a community-oriented campus where they can pursue their interests and develop practical skills.
After graduation, ECSU graduates see average earnings of around $40,026 after ten years. While the graduation rate sits at 46%, the focus on career-oriented programs helps many students enter the workforce with relevant experience. This is particularly important for those looking to make a quick transition into stable jobs, especially given the affordability of education here.
The net price for attending ECSU is about $6,364 after financial aid, which is manageable for many families. However, the median debt stands at $21,463, which is a consideration for students assessing their financial future. Those who thrive here typically appreciate a close-knit community, are motivated to pursue their chosen fields, and are willing to leverage the resources available to them to navigate their career paths successfully.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Elizabeth City State 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 Elizabeth City State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Elizabeth City State University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 64% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,019. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 64%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- SAT Average
- 1019
- ACT Midpoint
- 17
- SAT Range
- 920–1080
- ACT Range
- 16–22
- Full-Time Faculty
- 81%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,621
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.52
- First-Gen Students
- 37%
- Applicants
- 3,927
- Admitted
- 2,912
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 Elizabeth City State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Elizabeth City State University is $10,536, 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 $6,364. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,246 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,463 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,536
- Out-of-State
- $10,536
- Avg Net Price
- $6,364
- Median Debt
- $21,463
- Pell Grant Rate
- 54%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 54%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,246
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,538
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,354
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,663
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 Elizabeth City State 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 Elizabeth City State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Elizabeth City State University report median earnings of $40,026, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,776
- 8 Years
- $36,361
- 10 Years
- $40,026
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.54x
- Earning > $25K
- 43%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (42)
- 21%
- 100% (42)
- 21%
- 100% (42)
- 21%
- 100% (42)
- 21%
How Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth City State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Elizabeth City State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,364/year ($25,456 total). Graduates earn $40,026 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $984,391 in total earnings — a net gain of $958,935 (38.7× your investment). The median debt is $21,463, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 46% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $25,456
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $984,391
- Net Return
- $958,935
- ROI Multiple
- 38.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,364
- Median Debt
- $21,463
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 46%
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 Elizabeth City State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Elizabeth City State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.88%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 32.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 12.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $37,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.88%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 12.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 32.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $50,814
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Elizabeth City State 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 14% $36,562 early-career
- Criminal Justice 8% $36,562 early-career
- Transportation 8% $31,312 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8% $23,930 early-career
- Education 6% $33,980 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $34,625 early-career
- Psychology 5% $28,100 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3% $54,296 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 Elizabeth City State 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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Elizabeth City State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Elizabeth City State University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 64% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,019. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Elizabeth City State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Elizabeth City State University is $10,536, 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 $6,364. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,246 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,463 in federal student loans.
Is Elizabeth City State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Elizabeth City State University report median earnings of $40,026, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Elizabeth City State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Elizabeth City State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.88%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 32.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 12.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $37,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Elizabeth City State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Elizabeth City State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.01, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Elizabeth City State University.
- Claflin UniversityOrangeburg, SC · Close peer50% grad $40,304 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Fort Valley State UniversityFort Valley, GA · Close peer43% grad $36,666 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Indiana University-EastRichmond, IN · Close peer42% grad $47,156 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Maine at Presque IslePresque Isle, ME · Close peer45% grad $40,956 earn 100% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Hawaii at HiloHilo, HI · Close peer45% grad $47,856 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Indiana University-NorthwestGary, IN · Close peer37% grad $43,361 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Elizabeth City State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Elizabeth City State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.01, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note