ECU vs. WSSU

Deciding between East Carolina University and Winston Salem State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

East Carolina University
Winston Salem State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECU Greenville, NC
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • ECU Small City
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • ECU 26,940
  • WSSU 4,782
  • Type
  • ECU Public 4 Year
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECU #569
  • WSSU #940
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECU -
  • WSSU -
  • Status
  • ECU Non-profit
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECU
  • WSSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECU $7,361
  • WSSU $6,126
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECU $23,638
  • WSSU $16,782
  • Room & Board
  • ECU $11,541
  • WSSU $11,484
  • Average Net Price
  • ECU $13,755
  • WSSU $12,989
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECU $9,776
  • WSSU $10,057
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECU 55%
  • WSSU 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECU 26,369
  • WSSU 9,108
  • Admitted
  • ECU 23,524
  • WSSU 7,128
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECU 89.2%
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • Enrolled
  • ECU 17.1%
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECU 1160
  • WSSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECU 23
  • WSSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECU 3.33
  • WSSU 3.01
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECU B+
  • WSSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECU Moderate
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECU
  • WSSU
  • ACT Range
  • ECU 21/26
  • WSSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • ECU 1070/1240
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECU Test optional
  • WSSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ECU
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECU 17:1
  • WSSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECU
    • Business (19%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECU 59%
  • WSSU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECU $43,900
  • WSSU $35,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECU 63%
  • WSSU 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECU $24,788
  • WSSU $25,663
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECU $256
  • WSSU $265

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECU 39%
  • WSSU 26%
  • % Women
  • ECU 61%
  • WSSU 74%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECU Medium
  • WSSU Low
  • HBCU
  • ECU No
  • WSSU Yes
  • % White
  • ECU 69%
  • WSSU 16%
  • % Asian
  • ECU 3%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Black
  • ECU 16%
  • WSSU 72%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECU 6%
  • WSSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • ECU 1%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECU 0%
  • WSSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECU 3%
  • WSSU 4%
  • % International
  • ECU 0%
  • WSSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECU 2%
  • WSSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECU 82%
  • WSSU 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECU 17%
  • WSSU 24%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ECU Yes
  • WSSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ECU No
  • WSSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • ECU Yes
  • WSSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ECU No
  • WSSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ECU No
  • WSSU No

Comparable Facts

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

East Carolina University is larger than WSSU based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 4,782 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); Winston Salem State University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Winston Salem State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; Winston Salem State University 15:1.

ECU vs. WSSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or WSSU? 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 Winston Salem State University than ECU ($12,989 vs. $13,755).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 0.5% lower than at East Carolina University ($11,484 vs. $11,541).
  • East Carolina University is 20.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $1,235 more per year; $7,361.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.9% higher at ECU than at Winston Salem State University (about $6,856 more per year; $23,638.00 vs. $16,782.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Winston Salem State University than at East Carolina University (91% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Winston Salem State University students is 2.9% larger than aid received by East Carolina University students ($10,057 vs. $9,776).

ECU vs. WSSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU or WSSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WSSU and ECU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at East Carolina University (1160) is 230 points higher than at WSSU (930).
  • Incoming ECU students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (23 vs. 17 at WSSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: East Carolina University 1070/1240; Winston Salem State University 830/1020.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: East Carolina University 21/26; Winston Salem State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Test optional; WSSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSSU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman ECU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at WSSU (3.01).
  • ECU has a higher acceptance rate (89.2%) than WSSU (78.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 13.1% at WSSU.

ECU vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and WSSU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • East Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Winston Salem State University's (41%).
  • Graduates from East Carolina University earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than WSSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,900 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, East Carolina University graduates have a $875 lower median loan debt than WSSU graduates ($24,788 vs. $25,663).
  • Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSSU graduates ($256 vs. $265).
  • More ECU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 33%)

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.