Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UNCW UNCG WCU University of North Carolina at Asheville UNC Charlotte NC State Coastal Carolina UNC Chapel Hill JMU Tennessee WVU Elon| Appalachian State University | East Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ASU | ECU | ||
| Location | Boone, NC | Greenville, NC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 21,253 | 26,785 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #597 | #587 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | appstate.edu | ecu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ASU | ECU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,242 | $4,452 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,238 | $20,729 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,258 | $11,000 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,712 | $14,470 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,677 | $8,836 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 47% | 57% |
Admission |
ASU | ECU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 24,001 | 22,289 | ||
| Admitted | 21,275 | 20,073 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.6% | 90.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.9% | 19.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.96 | 3.33 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1100/1280 | 1050/1200 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
ASU | ECU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
ASU | ECU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 65% | 59% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,600 | $43,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $24,788 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $256 |
Diversity |
ASU | ECU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 6% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 85% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 16% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
ASU | ECU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 87% | 82% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 17% | ||
Campus |
ASU | ECU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- East Carolina University is larger than than ASU based on total student enrollment (26,785 students vs. 21,253 students)
ASU vs. ECU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ASU or ECU?
- East Carolina University is 5% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($4,452.00 vs. $4,242.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.5% higher at ASU than East Carolina University ($21,238.00 vs. $20,729.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Carolina University than ASU ($14,470 vs. $14,712)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 11.4% lower than costs at Appalachian State University ($11,000 vs. $12,258)
- More students receive financial grant aid at East Carolina University than Appalachian State University (57% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by East Carolina University students is 15.1% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($8,836 vs. $7,677)
ASU vs. ECU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ASU or ECU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ECU or ASU .
- The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 104 points higher than at ECU (1053)
- Incoming ASU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at ECU (23)
- Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.63 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at ECU (3.33)
- ECU has a higher acceptance rate (90.1%) than ASU (88.6%)
ASU vs. ECU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ASU or ECU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ECU and ASU.
- The graduation rate at ASU is higher than East Carolina University (65% vs. 59%)
- Graduates from East Carolina University earn on average $2,300 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($43,900 vs. $41,600)
- Appalachian State University students graduate with a $4,288 lower median federal student loan debt than ECU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,788)
- ASU graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than ECU graduates. ($211 vs. $256)
- More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/