East Carolina University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
East Carolina University is a public research university in Greenville, North Carolina, with about 19,896 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 89.21% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $55,146 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $7,361
- 2024 Average Net Price: $15,739 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 89.21% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 19,896 85.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 62.62%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 26.5%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 1.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 77.0%
- Average SAT Score: 1180
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 23,651
- Applicants (IPEDS): 22,289
- Room & Board: $11,541 annual estimate
East Carolina University: what the data shows
Common questions about East Carolina University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is East Carolina University?
East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (ZIP 27858-4353).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is East Carolina University public or private?
East Carolina University is a Public institution.
How much does East Carolina University cost?
Published tuition: $7,361 in-state, $23,638 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $15,739.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $10,046 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $11,699 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $14,904 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $20,417 |
| $110,001+ | $23,028 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $29,444.
How hard is it to get into East Carolina University?
Admission rate: 89.21%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1180.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is East Carolina University?
Total enrollment: 19,896 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 23,651 students.
Graduate enrollment: 5,495 students.
About 85% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at East Carolina University?
150%-time completion rate: 62.62%.
First-year retention: 82.7%.
What do graduates of East Carolina University earn?
Median earnings: $46,420 six years after entry; $55,146 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $22,750.
31.80% of students receive Pell grants.
What is East Carolina University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (548 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (410 completions)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (296 completions)
- Psychology, General (296 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (284 completions)
- Public Health Education and Promotion (259 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (241 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (233 completions)
- Criminology (183 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (174 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is East Carolina University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 89.21%; completion rate 62.62%; median earnings $55,146 at 10 years; net price $15,739. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$7,361
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at East Carolina University was $7,361.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$15,739
2024 Value
In 2024 East Carolina University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,739.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$62,956 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$15,739 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$29,444 4-Year In-State Tuition
$94,552 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$11,541 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,510 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$20,412 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$81,648 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for East Carolina University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
31.80% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
38.70% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at East Carolina University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for East Carolina University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $6,143 | $20,256 | $14,059 |
| 2014 | $6,143 | $21,340 | $14,981 |
| 2015 | $6,580 | $22,154 | $15,450 |
| 2016 | $6,997 | $22,955 | $15,203 |
| 2017 | $7,143 | $23,420 | $15,415 |
| 2018 | $7,188 | $23,465 | $16,506 |
| 2019 | $7,238 | $23,515 | $15,844 |
| 2020 | $7,239 | $23,516 | $16,550 |
| 2021 | $7,297 | $23,574 | $16,162 |
| 2022 | $7,325 | $23,602 | $16,703 |
| 2023 | $7,361 | $23,638 | $16,514 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
89.21% Acceptance Rate
22,289 Total Applicants
20,073 Students Admitted
3,941 First-Time Students Enrolled
19.63% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1180
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
East Carolina University reported total enrollment of about 19,896 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 43% male and 57% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (61.3%), Black or African American (16.4%), and Hispanic or Latino (10.4%). About 31.80% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 26.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
85.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at East Carolina University in 2024 is 19,896 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 23,651 students. Graduate enrollment is about 5,495 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
82.7%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 61.3%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
43.33% 100% Completion Time
62.62% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 43.33% of students graduating from East Carolina University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 56% male / 44% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 9% male / 91% female
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 30% male / 70% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for East Carolina University.
Return on Investment
$22,750 Median Student Debt
$55,146 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
41.25% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
775.95% Return on Investment
4.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for East Carolina University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 166 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 548 completions
2. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 410 completions
3. Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 296 completions
4. Psychology, General: 296 completions
5. Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 284 completions
6. Public Health Education and Promotion: 259 completions
7. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 241 completions
8. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 233 completions
9. Criminology: 183 completions
Most popular programs at East Carolina University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for East Carolina University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for East Carolina University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 77.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $9,595
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $14,141
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
East Carolina University is a public institution located in Greenville, NC, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Speech Communication and Rhetoric. Enrollment is approximately 19,896 students. Student body composition includes White (61.3%), Black or African American (16.4%), Hispanic or Latino (10.4%). The admission rate is 89.21%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1180. The 150%-time completion rate is 62.62%. Approximately 31.80% of students receive Pell Grants. About 26.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Location
Greenville, NC 27858-4353
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 166 distinct degree programs, East Carolina University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is East Carolina University located?
East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC.
What is East Carolina University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at East Carolina University is 89.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 22,289 applicants and 20,073 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does East Carolina University cost?
Reported tuition is $7,361 and average net price is $15,739 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,541 annually.
What is the student body demographics at East Carolina University?
East Carolina University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 23,651 students, White (61.3%), Black or African American (16.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend East Carolina University?
About 26.5% of students at East Carolina University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for East Carolina University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, East Carolina University reports midpoint SAT about 1180.
What do graduates of East Carolina University earn?
Median earnings are $46,420 six years after entry and $55,146 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at East Carolina University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 62.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do East Carolina University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,750.
Is East Carolina University public or private?
East Carolina University is a public institution located in Greenville, NC.
Is East Carolina University an HBCU?
No. East Carolina University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is East Carolina University a tribal college?
No. East Carolina University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- North Carolina college costs
- North Carolina colleges by ROI
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in North Carolina
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.