East Carolina University College Portrait
East Carolina UniversityEast 5th Street Greenville, NC 27858-4353
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East Carolina University
Tomorrow starts here.
For a century, East Carolina University has served the people of North Carolina and the nation. From modest beginnings as a school for training teachers, ECU has grown to become an emerging national research university with an enrollment of over 27,000 students. East Carolina offers 103 bachelor’s degrees, 72 master’s degrees, 58 graduate certificates, 18 doctoral degrees, and first-professional degrees in Medicine and Dentistry. With a mission of teaching, research, and service, East Carolina University is a dynamic institution connecting people and ideas, finding solutions to problems, and seeking the challenges of the future.
Living in the Pirates Community
Welcome to Pirate Nation, where everyone bleeds purple and gold…
Greenville and surrounding Pitt County are located in the north central coastal plain region of Eastern North Carolina, approximately 85 miles east of Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina. Greenville is approximately 87 miles west of the Atlantic Ocean and approximately 265 miles south of our nation's capital, Washington, DC.
Greenville and Pitt County have emerged as the commercial, cultural, educational and medical hub of Eastern North Carolina. Greenville has grown into a thriving small metropolitan city of over 80,000; Pitt County has a total population of 156,000.
Much of Greenville-Pitt County’s growth is attributed to East Carolina University, the state’s third largest and fastest growing university. East Carolina University is an engine of economic development for the region and state. Each year, the university generates over $2 billion for the state's economy. Through education, research and community engagement, East Carolina continues to develop new ideas and establish new relationships that will contribute to further economic growth.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 27,783 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 21,663 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 12,637 | 58% |
| Men | 9,026 | 42% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 124 | 1% |
| Asian | 476 | 2% |
| African American / Black | 3,257 | 15% |
| Hispanic | 640 | 3% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 4 | <1% |
| White | 15,848 | 73% |
| Two or More Races | 285 | 1% |
| International | 195 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 834 | 4% |
| Where do ECU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | 87% |
| Other US States & Territories | 12% |
| Other Countries | <1% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are ECU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 15% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 20 - 24 | |
| Math | 19 - 24 | 490 - 570 |
| English | 18 - 23 | |
| Critical Reading | 460 - 550 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 43% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 81% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 89% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.56 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 100% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $19,014
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend East Carolina University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 46% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $6,634. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 48% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,246. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009-2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
ECU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 17 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 64% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 86% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 1,246 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 47% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 11% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 80% |
More Information
Campus-based Housing
84% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
25% of all undergraduates live on campus
More Information
Campus Safety
The East Carolina Police Department wishes to reaffirm our commitment to serve the campus and local community to the best of our ability. If we and the university community will continue collaborative efforts toward implementing crime prevention awareness, we will all contribute to an overall increase in the personal and property safety at East Carolina University.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Doctoral/Research Universities
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Doctoral, professional dominant
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
More Information
Student Activities and Involvement at ECU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 91% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 49% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 25% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 83% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 14% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 38% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 59% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 7% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 90% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 96% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 82% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 68% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 96% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 61% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 81% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 97% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 67% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 65% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 90% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 56% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 88% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 92% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 82% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at East Carolina University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 3,848 |
| Master's | 1,518 |
| Doctoral | 144 |
| Total | 5,510 |
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 42% |
| Elementary Education and Teaching | 24% |
| Broadcast Journalism | 22% |
| Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN) | 16% |
| Fine/Studio Arts, General | 13% |
| Links to degree programs at East Carolina University |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 88% four-year success and progress rate means that 88% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 3,456 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 982 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 81%
Student Learning at East Carolina University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2008-09 Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1107
Senior Score: 1190
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1043
Senior Score: 1052
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1110
Senior Score: 1205
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1043
Senior Score: 1052