ECU acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
East Carolina University · Public · Greenville, NC · 21,328 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
ECU admitted 90.1% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 62.2% in 2013. North Carolina residents pay $7,438 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $23,715.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 62.2% | 15,535 | 9,658 |
| 2014 | 77.3% | 14,223 | 10,992 |
| 2015 | 69.0% | 16,871 | 11,647 |
| 2016 | 70.3% | 17,099 | 12,028 |
| 2017 | 79.0% | 15,860 | 12,533 |
| 2018 | 82.2% | 17,499 | 14,384 |
| 2019 | 78.7% | 19,235 | 15,141 |
| 2020 | 87.9% | 20,313 | 17,859 |
| 2021 | 93.9% | 21,898 | 20,560 |
| 2022 | 92.3% | 21,383 | 19,744 |
| 2023 | 90.1% | 22,289 | 20,073 |
Applications went from 15,535 in fall 2013 to 22,289 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $12,125 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $12,558 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $14,074 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $19,510 |
| Over $110,000 | $24,257 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $7,438 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $23,715 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $25,015 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $16,880 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 9% submitted the SAT, 18% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| App State NC | 88.6% | $7,642 in-state |
| Western Carolina NC | 86.7% | $4,685 in-state |
| UNC Charlotte NC | 80.2% | $7,317 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
East Carolina University enrolled its fall 2023 class from 22,289 applications, admitting 90.1% of applicants.1 The admit rate was 62.2% in 2013, which makes the 2023 figure 27.9 percentage points higher.1 It peaked at 93.9% in 2021 and declined in 4 of the 10 yearly comparisons.1 Applications rose 43% over the span, but the number admitted rose 108%, going from 9,658 to 20,073.1
Test scores are optional for fall 2023. Students who submitted them had a middle 50% of 530 to 610 on SAT reading and writing, 520 to 590 on SAT math, and 20 to 26 on the ACT.1
In-state tuition and fees are $7,438 for 2025-26, a little above the $7,292 median of 16 public bachelor's colleges in North Carolina, and out-of-state students pay $23,715.2 Families earning $0 to $30,000 faced an average net price of $12,125 in 2024-25, those at $48,001 to $75,000 paid $14,074, and those over $110,000 paid $24,257.2
63% of 2019 entrants earned a degree within 6 years, which exceeds the 47% median across 56 North Carolina colleges.2 About 83% of fall 2023 entrants were retained, and Pell grants reached 34% of undergraduates.2 Median earnings stand at $60,387 after 10 years, above the $52,558 state median, and median federal debt at graduation is $20,500.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 22,289 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 20,073 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 3,941 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 21,328 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 530 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 610 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 520 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 590 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 20 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 26 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 9% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 18% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $7,438 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $23,715 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $25,015 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $16,880 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $12,125 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $12,558 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $14,074 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $19,510 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $24,257 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 63% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 83% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 34% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $60,387 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $20,500 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, North Carolina (N = 16) | $7,292 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, North Carolina (N = 56) | 47% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry, North Carolina (N = 55) | $52,558 | College Scorecard, median MD_EARN_WNE_P10, bachelor's institutions, 2022-232 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with ECU, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page