ECU vs. UNCSA

Comparable Facts

Compare East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Carolina University is larger than UNCSA based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 1,111 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); University of North Carolina School of the Arts is in Winston Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
• East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; University of North Carolina School of the Arts 6:1.

ECU vs. UNCSA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or UNCSA? 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 University of North Carolina School of the Arts than ECU ($13,140 vs. $13,755).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 14.6% lower than at University of North Carolina School of the Arts ($11,541 vs. $13,517).
• University of North Carolina School of the Arts is 28.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $2,116 more per year; $9,477.00 vs. $7,361.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.1% higher at UNCSA than at East Carolina University (about $3,573 more per year; $27,211.00 vs. $23,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of North Carolina School of the Arts than at East Carolina University (62% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina School of the Arts students is 31.7% larger than aid received by East Carolina University students ($12,876 vs. $9,776).

ECU vs. UNCSA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU or UNCSA? 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 UNCSA and ECU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (1260) is 100 points higher than at ECU (1160).
• Incoming UNCSA students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at ECU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 1070/1240; University of North Carolina School of the Arts 1140/1370.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 21/26; University of North Carolina School of the Arts 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Test optional; UNCSA - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNCSA Mar 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UNCSA students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at ECU (3.33).
• ECU has a higher acceptance rate (89.2%) than UNCSA (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 55.5% at UNCSA.

ECU vs. UNCSA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and UNCSA? 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).

• East Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than University of North Carolina School of the Arts's (58%).
• Graduates from East Carolina University earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than UNCSA graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,900 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Carolina University graduates have a $2,212 lower median loan debt than UNCSA graduates ($24,788 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UNCSA graduates ($256 vs. $279).
• More ECU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCSA students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 56%)

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.