Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks East Carolina University #181 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,888, placing East Carolina University in the 46.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. East Carolina University sits in the 48.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the university's strength in health sciences and applied professional programs that consistently deliver competitive early-career outcomes. Students at East Carolina University earn about $2,198 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a result driven in large part by the university's dominant health sciences programs and their direct alignment with high-demand regional and national labor markets. Azimuth's composite ranking captures how ECU balances return on investment, access for Pell-eligible and first-generation students, and post-graduation affordability — making it a distinctive option among public universities in the Azimuth coverage set.
Azimuth ranks East Carolina University #181 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Greenville, NC, East Carolina University enrolls roughly 19,896 undergraduates. Retention stands at 82.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 62.6%, figures that reflect a university converting broad enrollment into steady degree completion. What anchors East Carolina University's composite position is mobility. The university sits in the 92.4 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 31.8% receive Pell Grants and 26.5% are first-generation college students. Health is the dominant program family, and the university's concentration in nursing, health administration, and allied health fields channels graduates into career paths with stable regional demand. Access reinforces the mobility story — East Carolina University sits in the 80.1 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an admission rate of 89.2% signaling a broad-access posture that welcomes students from a wide range of backgrounds. Return on investment is the weaker pillar in the composite. East Carolina University sits in the 51.9 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $60,888, and graduates earn about $2,198 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing East Carolina University in the 48.6 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 69.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, shaped by public-tuition pricing and need-based aid that narrows the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.
East Carolina University's published cost of attendance is $23,867, but need-based aid meaningfully reduces what most families pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $10,046, middle-income families pay around $14,904, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,028. Azimuth ranks East Carolina University #443 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay reflects how net price and published cost can diverge substantially. East Carolina University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and work-study. Need-based aid is the primary driver of the pricing spread across income groups, and families apply using the FAFSA. The university's health-focused program mix — nursing, allied health, and clinical sciences — tends to attract students who borrow with a clear career pathway in mind, which shapes the debt profile of the typical graduate. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,710; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,888, median federal debt of $22,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $257 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
East Carolina University is a strong fit for students drawn to health professions, nursing, and applied fields who want a public research university in NC that delivers reliable post-graduation earnings without the cost of higher-priced private institutions. Graduates earn in the 46.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and East Carolina University sits in the 48.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $2,198 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term financial outcomes. The access profile is broad. 31.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.5% are first-generation students, and the institution's completion outcomes for Pell-eligible students — 62.8% — reflect a campus that actively supports students from lower-income backgrounds through to graduation. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while students seeking a research-intensive STEM or social-sciences environment may find a better match elsewhere. Median student debt at graduation is $22,750, which is worth weighing against expected earnings when planning for repayment.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the East Carolina University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
East Carolina University's published cost of attendance is $23,867, but need-based aid meaningfully reduces what most families pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $10,046, middle-income families pay around $14,904, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,028.
Azimuth ranks East Carolina University #443 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay reflects how [net price and published cost can diverge substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/). East Carolina University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and work-study.
Need-based aid is the primary driver of the pricing spread across income groups, and families apply using the FAFSA. The university's health-focused program mix — nursing, allied health, and clinical sciences — tends to attract students who borrow with a clear career pathway in mind, which shapes the debt profile of the typical graduate.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,710; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,888, median federal debt of $22,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $257 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of East Carolina University earn median earnings of $60,888 four years after enrollment, placing East Carolina University in the 46.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $2,198 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 48.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to NC's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928, the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
East Carolina University's degree output leans heavily toward Health, which accounts for 18% of graduates, followed by Education at 7% and Social Sciences at 4%. Nursing combines large cohort scale with solid earnings, making it a notable contributor to the institution's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #217 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 374 graduates earning median earnings of $82,250. The Business Administration program graduates 317 students with median earnings of $64,723, and Azimuth ranks the program #192 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Public Health #27 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 285 graduates earning median earnings of $59,566.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4376 ranked) | NC | 89% | $48,160 | #4376 | Compare |
Iowa State University Similar quality tier (#4896 ranked) | IA | 89% | $63,386 | #4896 | Compare |
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4902 ranked) | FL | 21% | $44,349 | #4902 | Compare |
University Of West Florida Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4903 ranked) | FL | 58% | $49,137 | #4903 | Compare |
University Of Louisiana At Lafayette Similar quality tier (#4339 ranked) | LA | 87% | $47,089 | #4339 | Compare |
Computer Science
52 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
46 graduates
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
123 graduates
Engineering, General
87 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
374 graduates
East Carolina University's program mix is anchored in Health, which accounts for 18% of degree output — a concentration that reflects the university's regional health-sciences identity in eastern North Carolina. Education represents 7% of graduates and Social Sciences accounts for 4%, rounding out a portfolio that balances clinical training with applied business and technical fields.
Across 57 programs serving roughly 4,756 students annually, 45 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a broad base that gives students meaningful choice across career pathways. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in health and engineering-adjacent fields.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #217 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 374 graduates earning median earnings of $82,250 four years after enrollment. Azimuth ranks Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians #9 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 201 graduates earning median earnings of $81,852.
Nursing is the largest program by cohort size at 374 graduates, and Azimuth ranks it #217 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with median earnings of $82,250. The Business Administration program graduates 317 students with median earnings of $64,723, and Azimuth ranks the program #192 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Many of East Carolina University's highest-earning programs — particularly nursing and health-sciences fields — feed directly into local and regional labor markets where employer demand remains strong and consistent. These are high-stability pathways rather than high-mobility ones: graduates tend to stay in North Carolina's health-care system rather than relocate nationally, which means four-year earnings closely reflect durable career outcomes rather than temporary starting salaries.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides broader context for how health-dominant program portfolios align with national workforce needs. ```
