ECSU vs. UNCG

Deciding between Elizabeth City State University and University of North Carolina at Greensboro? 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
University of North Carolina at Greensboro

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECSU Elizabeth City, NC
  • UNCG Greensboro, NC
  • Setting
  • ECSU Distant Town
  • UNCG Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ECSU 2,258
  • UNCG 18,012
  • Type
  • ECSU Public 4 Year
  • UNCG Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECSU #963
  • UNCG #646
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECSU -
  • UNCG -
  • Status
  • ECSU Non-profit
  • UNCG Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECSU
  • UNCG
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECSU $6,536
  • UNCG $7,661
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECSU $10,536
  • UNCG $24,012
  • Room & Board
  • ECSU $11,986
  • UNCG $10,688
  • Average Net Price
  • ECSU $6,483
  • UNCG $11,404
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECSU $10,732
  • UNCG $9,863
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECSU 89%
  • UNCG 87%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECSU 5,489
  • UNCG 12,948
  • Admitted
  • ECSU 3,525
  • UNCG 11,460
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECSU 64.2%
  • UNCG 88.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ECSU 12%
  • UNCG 21.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECSU 1000
  • UNCG 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECSU 19
  • UNCG 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECSU 3.16
  • UNCG 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECSU B+
  • UNCG A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECSU Extremely Easy
  • UNCG Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECSU Low
  • UNCG
  • ACT Range
  • ECSU 16/22
  • UNCG 22/27
  • SAT Range
  • ECSU 920/1080
  • UNCG 1150/1355
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECSU Test optional
  • UNCG Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ECSU Jun 30, 2027
  • UNCG Mar 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECSU 19:1
  • UNCG 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECSU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • UNCG
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECSU 44%
  • UNCG 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECSU $30,700
  • UNCG $39,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECSU 23%
  • UNCG 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECSU $26,125
  • UNCG $22,737
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECSU $270
  • UNCG $235
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECSU 48%
  • UNCG 33%
  • % Women
  • ECSU 52%
  • UNCG 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECSU Low
  • UNCG High
  • HBCU
  • ECSU Yes
  • UNCG No
  • % White
  • ECSU 14%
  • UNCG 52%
  • % Asian
  • ECSU 0%
  • UNCG 5%
  • % Black
  • ECSU 74%
  • UNCG 28%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECSU 2%
  • UNCG 8%
  • % Native American
  • ECSU 0%
  • UNCG 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECSU 0%
  • UNCG 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECSU 1%
  • UNCG 4%
  • % International
  • ECSU 0%
  • UNCG 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECSU 8%
  • UNCG 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECSU 69%
  • UNCG 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECSU 26%
  • UNCG 5%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, NC with University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Greensboro, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro is larger than ECSU based on total student enrollment (18,012 students vs. 2,258 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elizabeth City State University is located in Elizabeth City, NC (Distant Town setting); University of North Carolina at Greensboro is in Greensboro, NC (Large City setting).
  • Elizabeth City State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elizabeth City State University 19:1; University of North Carolina at Greensboro 18:1.

ECSU vs. UNCG Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU or UNCG? 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 UNCG ($6,483 vs. $11,404).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Greensboro are 10.8% lower than at Elizabeth City State University ($10,688 vs. $11,986).
  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro is 17.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECSU (about $1,125 more per year; $7,661.00 vs. $6,536.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 127.9% higher at UNCG than at Elizabeth City State University (about $13,476 more per year; $24,012.00 vs. $10,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elizabeth City State University than at University of North Carolina at Greensboro (89% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elizabeth City State University students is 8.8% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Greensboro students ($10,732 vs. $9,863).

ECSU vs. UNCG Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1250) is 250 points higher than at ECSU (1000).
  • Incoming UNCG students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 19 at ECSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabeth City State University 920/1080; University of North Carolina at Greensboro 1150/1355.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabeth City State University 16/22; University of North Carolina at Greensboro 22/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECSU - Test optional; UNCG - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ECSU Jun 30, 2027; UNCG Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UNCG students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at ECSU (3.16).
  • UNCG has a higher acceptance rate (88.5%) than ECSU (64.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12% at ECSU vs. 21.2% at UNCG.

ECSU vs. UNCG Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECSU and UNCG? 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).

  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Elizabeth City State University's (44%).
  • Graduates from University of North Carolina at Greensboro earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than ECSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,100 vs. $30,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Greensboro graduates have a $3,388 lower median loan debt than ECSU graduates ($22,737 vs. $26,125).
  • Among borrowers, UNCG graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECSU graduates ($235 vs. $270).
  • More UNCG graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECSU students, three years after graduation. (56% 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.