TESC vs. ECSU

Deciding between Thomas Edison 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.

Elizabeth City State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • TESC Trenton, NJ
  • ECSU Elizabeth City, NC
  • Setting
  • TESC Small City
  • ECSU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • TESC 7,544
  • ECSU 2,258
  • Type
  • TESC Public 4 Year
  • ECSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • TESC
  • ECSU #963
  • Religious Affiliation
  • TESC -
  • ECSU -
  • Status
  • TESC Non-profit
  • ECSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • TESC
  • ECSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • TESC $6,838
  • ECSU $6,536
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • TESC $8,856
  • ECSU $10,536
  • Room & Board
  • TESC $5,170
  • ECSU $11,986
  • Average Net Price
  • TESC -
  • ECSU $6,483
  • Average Grant Aid
  • TESC $0
  • ECSU $10,732
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • TESC 0%
  • ECSU 89%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • TESC -
  • ECSU 5,489
  • Admitted
  • TESC -
  • ECSU 3,525
  • Acceptance Rate
  • TESC Open
  • ECSU 64.2%
  • Enrolled
  • TESC Open
  • ECSU 12%
  • Typical SAT score
  • TESC
  • ECSU 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • TESC
  • ECSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • TESC -
  • ECSU 3.16
  • Typical High School Grades
  • TESC -
  • ECSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • TESC Unavailable
  • ECSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • TESC
  • ECSU Low
  • ACT Range
  • TESC
  • ECSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • TESC
  • ECSU 920/1080
  • Submit Test Scores
  • TESC Open admission
  • ECSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • TESC
  • ECSU Jun 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • TESC 20:1
  • ECSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • TESC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (27%)
    • General Studies (24%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • ECSU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • TESC -
  • ECSU 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • TESC $57,800
  • ECSU $30,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • TESC 53%
  • ECSU 23%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • TESC $10,750
  • ECSU $26,125
  • Median Loan Payment
  • TESC $111
  • ECSU $270

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • TESC 59%
  • ECSU 48%
  • % Women
  • TESC 41%
  • ECSU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • TESC High
  • ECSU Low
  • HBCU
  • TESC No
  • ECSU Yes
  • % White
  • TESC 52%
  • ECSU 14%
  • % Asian
  • TESC 4%
  • ECSU 0%
  • % Black
  • TESC 15%
  • ECSU 74%
  • % Hispanic
  • TESC 9%
  • ECSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • TESC 1%
  • ECSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • TESC 0%
  • ECSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • TESC 2%
  • ECSU 1%
  • % International
  • TESC 1%
  • ECSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • TESC 15%
  • ECSU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • TESC -
  • ECSU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • TESC -
  • ECSU 26%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, NJ with Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas Edison State University is larger than ECSU based on total student enrollment (7,544 students vs. 2,258 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Thomas Edison State University is located in Trenton, NJ (Small City setting); Elizabeth City State University is in Elizabeth City, NC (Distant Town setting).
  • Thomas Edison 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: Thomas Edison State University 20:1; Elizabeth City State University 19:1.

TESC vs. ECSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TESC or ECSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Edison State University are 56.9% lower than at Elizabeth City State University ($5,170 vs. $11,986).
  • Thomas Edison State University is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECSU (about $302 more per year; $6,838.00 vs. $6,536.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19% higher at ECSU than at Thomas Edison State University (about $1,680 more per year; $10,536.00 vs. $8,856.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elizabeth City State University than at Thomas Edison State University (89% vs. 0%).

TESC vs. ECSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TESC 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 TESC.

  • Thomas Edison State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsElizabeth City State University 920/1080.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsElizabeth City State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TESC - Open admission; ECSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ECSU Jun 30, 2027.

TESC vs. ECSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TESC 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).

  • Graduates from Thomas Edison State University earn a median of about $27,100 more per year than ECSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,800 vs. $30,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Thomas Edison State University graduates have a $15,375 lower median loan debt than ECSU graduates ($10,750 vs. $26,125).
  • Among borrowers, TESC graduates have an estimated $159 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECSU graduates ($111 vs. $270).
  • More TESC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECSU students, three years after graduation. (53% 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.