ECU vs. Meredith

Comparable Facts

Compare East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with Meredith College in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Carolina University is larger than Meredith based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 1,465 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); Meredith College is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
• East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Meredith College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; Meredith College 10:1.

ECU vs. Meredith Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or Meredith? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Carolina University than Meredith ($13,755 vs. $24,323).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 13.1% lower than at Meredith College ($11,541 vs. $13,280).
• Meredith College is 519.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $38,269 more per year; $45,630.00 vs. $7,361.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 93% higher at Meredith than at East Carolina University (about $21,992 more per year; $45,630.00 vs. $23,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Meredith College than at East Carolina University (100% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Meredith College students is 238.7% larger than aid received by East Carolina University students ($33,116 vs. $9,776).

ECU vs. Meredith Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU or Meredith? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Meredith and ECU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Meredith College (1220) is 60 points higher than at ECU (1160).
• Incoming Meredith students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 23 at ECU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 1070/1240; Meredith College 1098/1348.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 21/26; Meredith College 23/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Test optional; Meredith - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Meredith Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Meredith students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at ECU (3.33).
• ECU has a higher acceptance rate (89.2%) than Meredith (74.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 18.5% at Meredith.

ECU vs. Meredith Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and Meredith? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• The graduation rate at ECU is the same as at Meredith College (59% vs. 59%).
• Graduates from East Carolina University earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Meredith graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,900 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Carolina University graduates have a $1,212 lower median loan debt than Meredith graduates ($24,788 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Meredith graduates ($256 vs. $268).
• More Meredith graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.