ASU vs. ECU

Should I go to Appalachian State University or East Carolina University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ASU or ECU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Appalachian State University vs. East Carolina University comparison
Appalachian State University East Carolina University College 3 College 4
Appalachian State University East Carolina University
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Overview

ASU ECU
Location Boone, NC Greenville, NC
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 20,436 27,151
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #594 #673
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) $20,246 $20,729
Room & Board $11,582 $10,816
Avg Net Price $13,084 $14,410
Avg Grant Aid $7,443 $9,020
% Receiving Grant Aid 47% 59%

Admission

ASU ECU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,255 21,383
Admitted 18,489 19,744
Acceptance Rate 83.1% 92.3%
Enrolled % 21.2% 19.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.96 3.33
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 19/24
SAT Range 1100/1270 1020/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025

Academics

ASU ECU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Communication (7%)

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 42% 40%
% Women 58% 60%
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% 83%
% Out-of-State 13% 15%

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 (27,151 students vs. 20,436 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 2.4% higher at ECU than Appalachian State University ($20,729.00 vs. $20,246.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than ECU ($13,084 vs. $14,410)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 7.1% lower than costs at Appalachian State University ($10,816 vs. $11,582)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at East Carolina University than Appalachian State University (59% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by East Carolina University students is 21.2% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($9,020 vs. $7,443)

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 (92.3%) than ASU (83.1%)

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/