Henderson State University vs. ECSU

Deciding between Henderson State University and Elizabeth City 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.

Henderson State University
Elizabeth City State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Henderson State University Arkadelphia, AR
  • ECSU Elizabeth City, NC
  • Setting
  • Henderson State University Distant Town
  • ECSU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Henderson State University 2,055
  • ECSU 2,258
  • Type
  • Henderson State University Public 4 Year
  • ECSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Henderson State University #1024
  • ECSU #963
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Henderson State University -
  • ECSU -
  • Status
  • Henderson State University Non-profit
  • ECSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Henderson State University
  • ECSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Henderson State University $8,244
  • ECSU $6,536
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Henderson State University $10,620
  • ECSU $10,536
  • Room & Board
  • Henderson State University $10,000
  • ECSU $11,986
  • Average Net Price
  • Henderson State University $20,444
  • ECSU $6,483
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Henderson State University $7,867
  • ECSU $10,732
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Henderson State University 98%
  • ECSU 89%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Henderson State University -
  • ECSU 5,489
  • Admitted
  • Henderson State University -
  • ECSU 3,525
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Henderson State University
  • ECSU 64.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Henderson State University
  • ECSU 12%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Henderson State University 990
  • ECSU 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • Henderson State University 18
  • ECSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • Henderson State University 3.23
  • ECSU 3.16
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Henderson State University B+
  • ECSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Henderson State University Extremely Easy
  • ECSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Henderson State University
  • ECSU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Henderson State University 16/21
  • ECSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • Henderson State University 903/1073
  • ECSU 920/1080
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Henderson State University Not reported
  • ECSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Henderson State University Jul 15, 2027
  • ECSU Jun 30, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Henderson State University 14:1
  • ECSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Henderson State University
    • Education (19%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • ECSU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Henderson State University 31%
  • ECSU 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Henderson State University $38,400
  • ECSU $30,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Henderson State University 48%
  • ECSU 23%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Henderson State University $19,500
  • ECSU $26,125
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Henderson State University $201
  • ECSU $270
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Henderson State University 41%
  • ECSU 48%
  • % Women
  • Henderson State University 59%
  • ECSU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Henderson State University Medium
  • ECSU Low
  • HBCU
  • Henderson State University No
  • ECSU Yes
  • % White
  • Henderson State University 66%
  • ECSU 14%
  • % Asian
  • Henderson State University 1%
  • ECSU 0%
  • % Black
  • Henderson State University 24%
  • ECSU 74%
  • % Hispanic
  • Henderson State University 4%
  • ECSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • Henderson State University 0%
  • ECSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Henderson State University 0%
  • ECSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Henderson State University 4%
  • ECSU 1%
  • % International
  • Henderson State University 1%
  • ECSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Henderson State University 0%
  • ECSU 8%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Henderson State University 74%
  • ECSU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Henderson State University 23%
  • ECSU 26%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR with Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Elizabeth City State University is larger than Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (2,258 students vs. 2,055 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Henderson State University is located in Arkadelphia, AR (Distant Town setting); Elizabeth City State University is in Elizabeth City, NC (Distant Town setting).
  • Henderson State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Elizabeth City State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Henderson State University 14:1; Elizabeth City State University 19:1.

Henderson State University vs. ECSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henderson State University or ECSU? 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 Henderson State University ($6,483 vs. $20,444).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Henderson State University are 16.6% lower than at Elizabeth City State University ($10,000 vs. $11,986).
  • Henderson State University is 26.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECSU (about $1,708 more per year; $8,244.00 vs. $6,536.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Henderson State University than at Elizabeth City State University (about $84 more per year; $10,620.00 vs. $10,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Henderson State University than at Elizabeth City State University (98% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elizabeth City State University students is 36.4% larger than aid received by Henderson State University students ($10,732 vs. $7,867).

Henderson State University vs. ECSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Henderson State University or ECSU? 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 ECSU and Henderson State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Elizabeth City State University (1000) is 10 points higher than at Henderson State University (990).
  • Incoming ECSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (19 vs. 18 at Henderson State University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Henderson State University 903/1073; Elizabeth City State University 920/1080.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Henderson State University 16/21; Elizabeth City State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Henderson State University - Not reported; ECSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Henderson State University Jul 15, 2027; ECSU Jun 30, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Henderson State University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.23) than students at ECSU (3.16).

Henderson State University vs. ECSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Henderson State University and ECSU? 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 Henderson State University's (31%).
  • Graduates from Henderson State University earn a median of about $7,700 more per year than ECSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,400 vs. $30,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Henderson State University graduates have a $6,625 lower median loan debt than ECSU graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,125).
  • Among borrowers, Henderson State University graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECSU graduates ($201 vs. $270).
  • More Henderson State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECSU students, three years after graduation. (48% 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.