East Carolina University College Portrait
East Carolina UniversityEast 5th Street Greenville, NC 27858-4353
252.328.6640
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 2012?
More Information
| Total Students | 26,947 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 21,298 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 12,547 | 59% |
| Men | 8,751 | 41% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 110 | 1% |
| Asian | 512 | 2% |
| African American / Black | 3,153 | 15% |
| Hispanic | 611 | 3% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 20 | <1% |
| White | 15,404 | 72% |
| Two or More Races | 518 | 2% |
| International | 200 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 770 | 4% |
| Where do ECU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | 87% |
| Other US States & Territories | 11% |
| Other Countries | <1% |
| Residency Unknown | 1% |
| How old are ECU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 14% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2012)
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 | 20 - 25 | 500 - 570 |
| English | 19 - 24 | |
| Critical Reading | 470 - 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 | 44% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 82% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 87% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.58 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 99% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $19,986
Out-of-State & Other Costs
More Information
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
- <1% of full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $0. 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
- <1% of full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $0. 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 2011 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 | 18 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 63% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 86% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 1,166 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 48% |
| % 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 | 81% |
More Information
Campus-based Housing
97% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
27% of all undergraduates live on campus
More Information
Campus Safety
The East Carolina University Police Department, located in the Blount House, is a professional police department providing the same level of service offered by a municipal police department, as well as other services unique to an academic institution. The department is responsible for the well being of everyone at the University 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. The average daily population served is approximately 40,000 including students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The department works closely with administrators, students, faculty, and staff to create and maintain a secure atmosphere. Its statutory arrest jurisdiction includes all University property as well as streets and sidewalks adjacent to the property. In addition, it participates in a mutual aid agreement with other local departments, including the City of Greenville, which gives University Officers jurisdiction in much of the city-area surrounding the University. University Officers are also assigned to local multi-jurisdiction task forces.
The ECU Police Department consists of approximately 62 full-time sworn police officers and 10 sworn reserve officers that are certified by the State of North Carolina; 23 non-sworn departmental personnel, and 30 part-time student patrol officers. ECU Police Officers patrol university grounds on foot, in patrols cars, and on bicycles.
The University, as with any other public or private entity, cannot assure or guarantee a crime-free living or working environment. Accordingly, it is the responsibility of members of the University Community to act in a security-conscious manner and to avoid actions which jeopardize their security as well as the security of others. Members of the faculty, staff, and student body should report all crimes, hazards, emergencies, or dangerous situations to the ECU Police Department immediately.
Crisis Intervention Team
Currently, the ECU Police Department has 30 certified CIT officers, nine certified CIT telecommunicators, and one CIT certified victim advocate. The Crisis Intervention Team training is a partnership led by a consortium of organizations and individuals representing law enforcement agencies, local management entities, consumers/peers, mental health providers, advocates, and others. It requires ongoing collaboration between law enforcement and the mental health community. The training is designed to assist law enforcement officers who respond to incidents involving persons in a mental health crisis.
CIT Program:
- Provides 40 hours of specialized training to sworn law enforcement officers and 16 hours of training for telecommunicators.
- Improves interactions between law enforcement and persons with mental illness.
- Decreases use-of-force occurrences
- Connects individuals in a mental health crisis to appropriate treatment and resources in the community.
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
- 91.0% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 49.0% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 28.0% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 83.0% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 20.0% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 49.0% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 66.0% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 8.0% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 91.0% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 98.0% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 81.0% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 68.0% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 97.0% 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
- 64.0% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 83.0% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 97.0% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 69.0% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 71.0% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 90.0% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 63.0% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 86.0% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 91.0% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 85.0% 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 2011-12 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 4,174 |
| Master's | 1,698 |
| Doctoral | 137 |
| Total | 6,009 |
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2011-12 | |
|---|---|
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric. | 7% |
| Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN). | 7% |
| Elementary Education and Teaching. | 6% |
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General. | 5% |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 4% |
| 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 2006 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2006 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 3,785 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,528 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2011 that returned for their second year: 78%