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East Carolina University

#262 in US ranking Greenville, NC
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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East Carolina University award
East Carolina University award

Cost

Cost / year
$25,015
Tuition & fees
$7,437
Avg. aid
$9,033
Receiving aid
77%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
89%
SAT range
1070–1240
ACT range
21–26

Outcomes

Graduation rate
63%
Median salary
$47,827
1 yr after graduation

What does East Carolina University offer in terms of athletics?

ECU's Pirates compete in NCAA Division I athletics and belong to the American Athletic Conference. Varsity opportunities include sports such as football, baseball, basketball, softball, and volleyball, with team rosters and recruiting governed separately from general student activities.

Students who are not varsity athletes can look to club sports, intramural competitions, and campus recreation for participation. Those options differ in commitment, travel, and skill expectations, and their offerings can change by term. A sport listed among student activities should not be assumed to be an NCAA varsity team.

What student groups and Associations are available at East Carolina University?

ECU offers student-led groups spanning academic interests, cultural communities, service, recreation, and the arts. Examples include the Student Government Association, Black Student Union, and Student Activities Board.

Student government provides a route into campus representation, while programming organizations help arrange events. Academic and professional clubs can offer peers with similar majors; performing groups, service organizations, and recreational clubs serve different interests. Students should check the current recognized-organization directory for active groups, membership rules, and meeting times rather than assume every listed organization operates every semester.

Who studies at East Carolina University?

ECU enrolls about 26,940 students, making it a large university with a substantial first-year and transfer intake. The reported entering figures include 4,022 first-time degree-seeking undergraduates and 1,767 transfer-in students.

North Carolina residents account for about 82% of students, while approximately 17% come from other U.S. states. The student body includes traditional-age undergraduates as well as adult learners: reported enrollment includes students in their thirties, forties, and older. These institution-wide figures do not necessarily describe the composition of an individual class, major, or online program.

How does student life look like at East Carolina University?

Everyday life at ECU reflects both its residential campus and its sizable commuting population. Reported housing figures place about one-quarter of students on campus, so classes, student events, and shared facilities bring together students with different daily schedules.

First-year activities, campus recreation, arts programming, and student health and counseling services provide ways to connect beyond coursework. ECU also has a student newspaper, student-run broadcast outlets, theater and music groups, and a marching band. For a commuter or adult learner, an event's timing and the distance between obligations may matter as much as the number of activities offered.

What libraries are available to students at East Carolina University?

ECU's library system supports coursework and research through main-campus collections and specialized health-sciences resources. Joyner Library is the main library identified in the reported campus information; the William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library serves health-related teaching and research.

Students can use library study spaces, reserve study rooms, seek research assistance, and access scholarly databases and journals. Digital resources and borrowing services are particularly useful to students whose work takes them away from the main campus. Hours and room availability vary, so students needing late-night space should check current schedules rather than assume a study area is open 24 hours.

East Carolina University Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

26940

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

4050

Member of Athletic Associations

NCAA

Total staff

1131 full time, 285 part time

Veterans affair office

Yes

East Carolina University Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 21,445
Graduate: 5,495

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 19,890
Part-time: 7,050

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 2,426
Men: 1,624

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 2,005
Black or African American: 3,334
White: 11,694
American Indian or Alaska Native: 98
Asian: 535
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 17
Two or more races: 921
Unknown: 1,468

Freshly enrolled students' age

Under 25 years
Over 25 years

East Carolina University Sports & Athletics

  • Member of NCAA

Varsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).

Sport

Varsity Intramural Aid

Baseball

Men–Men

Basketball

BothBothMen

Cross-country running

Both–Men

Golf

Both–Men

Soccer

WomenBothWomen

Softball

WomenBoth–

Swimming and diving

Women–Women

Tennis

Women––

Track and field

Both–Men

Volleyball

WomenBoth–

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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