ECSU vs. AU

Deciding between Elizabeth City State University and Averett 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.

Elizabeth City State University
Averett University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECSU Elizabeth City, NC
  • AU Danville, VA
  • Setting
  • ECSU Distant Town
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ECSU 2,258
  • AU 1,476
  • Type
  • ECSU Public 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECSU #963
  • AU #637
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECSU -
  • AU -
  • Status
  • ECSU Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECSU
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECSU $6,536
  • AU $38,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECSU $10,536
  • AU $38,550
  • Room & Board
  • ECSU $11,986
  • AU $14,530
  • Average Net Price
  • ECSU $6,483
  • AU $23,471
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECSU $10,732
  • AU $29,998
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECSU 89%
  • AU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECSU 5,489
  • AU 2,573
  • Admitted
  • ECSU 3,525
  • AU 1,456
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECSU 64.2%
  • AU 56.6%
  • Enrolled
  • ECSU 12%
  • AU 18.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECSU 1000
  • AU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECSU 19
  • AU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECSU 3.16
  • AU 3.07
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECSU B+
  • AU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECSU Extremely Easy
  • AU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECSU Low
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • ECSU 16/22
  • AU 15/28
  • SAT Range
  • ECSU 920/1080
  • AU 926/1143
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECSU Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ECSU Jun 30, 2027
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECSU 19:1
  • AU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECSU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • AU
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECSU 44%
  • AU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECSU $30,700
  • AU $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECSU 23%
  • AU 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECSU $26,125
  • AU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECSU $270
  • AU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECSU 48%
  • AU 45%
  • % Women
  • ECSU 52%
  • AU 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECSU Low
  • AU Medium
  • HBCU
  • ECSU Yes
  • AU No
  • % White
  • ECSU 14%
  • AU 58%
  • % Asian
  • ECSU 0%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • ECSU 74%
  • AU 33%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECSU 2%
  • AU 4%
  • % Native American
  • ECSU 0%
  • AU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECSU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECSU 1%
  • AU 0%
  • % International
  • ECSU 0%
  • AU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECSU 8%
  • AU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECSU 69%
  • AU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECSU 26%
  • AU 39%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, NC with Averett University in Danville, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Elizabeth City State University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (2,258 students vs. 1,476 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elizabeth City State University is located in Elizabeth City, NC (Distant Town setting); Averett University is in Danville, VA (Small City setting).
  • Elizabeth City State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Averett University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elizabeth City State University 19:1; Averett University 16:1.

ECSU vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU or AU? 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 Elizabeth City State University than AU ($6,483 vs. $23,471).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elizabeth City State University are 17.5% lower than at Averett University ($11,986 vs. $14,530).
  • Averett University is 489.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECSU (about $32,014 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $6,536.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 265.9% higher at AU than at Elizabeth City State University (about $28,014 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $10,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Averett University than at Elizabeth City State University (99% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Averett University students is 179.5% larger than aid received by Elizabeth City State University students ($29,998 vs. $10,732).

ECSU vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECSU or AU? 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 AU and ECSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Averett University (1030) is 30 points higher than at ECSU (1000).
  • Incoming AU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 19 at ECSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabeth City State University 920/1080; Averett University 926/1143.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabeth City State University 16/22; Averett University 15/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECSU - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ECSU Jun 30, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ECSU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.16) than students at AU (3.07).
  • ECSU has a higher acceptance rate (64.2%) than AU (56.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12% at ECSU vs. 18.1% at AU.

ECSU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECSU and AU? 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).

  • Elizabeth City State University's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Averett University's (41%).
  • Graduates from Averett University earn a median of about $17,700 more per year than ECSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $30,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Averett University graduates have a $1,125 lower median loan debt than ECSU graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,125).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECSU graduates ($258 vs. $270).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECSU students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 23%)

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.