ECSU vs. USC Aiken

Should I go to Eastern Connecticut State University or University of South Carolina Aiken? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ECSU or USC Aiken 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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Eastern Connecticut State University vs. University of South Carolina Aiken comparison
Eastern Connecticut State University University of South Carolina Aiken College 3 College 4
Eastern Connecticut State University
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Overview

ECSU USC Aiken
Location Willimantic, CT Aiken, SC
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 4,082 3,840
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #432 #888
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website easternct.edu usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ECSU USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $6,470 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $9,706 $20,856
Room & Board $16,106 $8,376
Avg Net Price $18,628 $11,872
Avg Grant Aid $10,993 $9,891
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

ECSU USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,488 2,453
Admitted 4,052 1,855
Acceptance Rate 73.8% 75.6%
Enrolled % 17.7% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/28 18/24
SAT Range 980/1190 950/1180
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

ECSU USC Aiken
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

ECSU USC Aiken
Graduation Rate 49% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $39,600
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $237 $268

Diversity

ECSU USC Aiken
% Men 40% 36%
% Women 60% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 58%
% Black 7% 27%
% Hispanic 10% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 9% 2%

Students

ECSU USC Aiken
% In-State 87% 87%
% Out-of-State 13% 11%

Campus

ECSU USC Aiken
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Eastern Connecticut State University is larger than than USC Aiken based on total student enrollment (4,082 students vs. 3,840 students)

ECSU vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU or USC Aiken?

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is 60.7% more expensive to attend than ECSU for in-state tuition ($10,398.00 vs. $6,470.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 114.9% higher at USC Aiken than Eastern Connecticut State University ($20,856.00 vs. $9,706.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than ECSU ($11,872 vs. $18,628)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 92.3% lower than costs at Eastern Connecticut State University ($8,376 vs. $16,106)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Connecticut State University as University of South Carolina Aiken (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Connecticut State University students is 11.1% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Aiken ($10,993 vs. $9,891)

ECSU vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECSU or USC Aiken? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC Aiken or ECSU .

  • Accepted freshman ECSU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at USC Aiken (3.19)
  • USC Aiken has a higher acceptance rate (75.6%) than ECSU (73.8%)

ECSU vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ECSU or USC Aiken? 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 USC Aiken and ECSU.

  • The graduation rate at ECSU is higher than University of South Carolina Aiken (49% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Eastern Connecticut State University earn on average $6,800 more per year than USC Aiken graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $39,600)
  • Eastern Connecticut State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than USC Aiken graduates. ($23,000 vs. $26,000)
  • ECSU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than USC Aiken graduates. ($237 vs. $268)
  • More ECSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC Aiken students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/