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Elizabeth City State University

Public Graduate Strong 75/100

Elizabeth City State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Elizabeth City, North Carolina

About Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. It enrolls 1,975 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: ecsu.edu

Acceptance: 64.2%
Graduation: 41.6%
Net Price: $6,364
Median Earnings (10yr): $40,026
Enrollment: 1,975
Student : Faculty: 17:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

75/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 34

Value 95

Affordability 93

Selectivity 38

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 64.2%, Elizabeth City State University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

64.2%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

920 – 1080

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

16 – 22

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Elizabeth City State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 4.9 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Elizabeth City State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $6,364 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$6,364

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

54%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

54%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $6,536
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $10,536
Room & Board (on-campus): $11,986
Room & Board (off-campus): $9,996
Books & Supplies: $720
Other Expenses (on-campus): $1,701
Other Expenses (off-campus): $1,701
Total Cost of Attendance: $17,701

Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$4,246
$30,001 – $48,000

$4,538
$48,001 – $75,000

$5,354
$75,001 – $110,000

$10,205
Over $110,000

$15,663

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,870

10% percentile

$8,808

25% percentile

$21,463

Median percentile

$31,000

75% percentile

$39,509

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $13,764 ↓ $7,699

No Pell $9,500 ↓ $11,963

Dependent students $12,719 ↓ $8,744

Independent students $12,604 ↓ $8,859

Female students $12,472 ↓ $8,991

Male students $13,198 ↓ $8,265

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($21,463), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

42% of full-time students who enrolled at Elizabeth City State University graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

42%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

76%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Elizabeth City State University earn a median of $40,026 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$40,026

Earning > $25K

66%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$29,900

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$35,000

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$28,700

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$34,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$39,800

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $5,100, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 16.6 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Concerning. Only 43% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Elizabeth City State University is home to 1,975 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

1,975

Part-Time

First-Generation

37%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Black 66.9% 1,321

White 17.4% 344

Other 6.5% 128

Hispanic 5.6% 110

International 1.1% 21

Asian 0.5% 9

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Elizabeth City State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Town: Distant Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Housing

Strongly residential 1,583 beds for 1,975 students

Adult Learners

22% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Historically Black College / University (HBCU)

What You Can Study

Elizabeth City State University offers a varied set of programs: 26 distinct programs across 16 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies $51K ($34K–$71K)
Sustainability Studies $58K ($37K–$77K)

2 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

2 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)

1 Program

Transportation

Air Transportation $86K ($62K–$118K)

1 Program

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)

3 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Design $51K ($33K–$71K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
Visual & Performing Arts $42K ($26K–$60K)

1 Program

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Elizabeth City State University is 17:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

17:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$9,530

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$20M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$75,316

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

88 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	20	23%	$91,117
Associate Professors	24	27%	$78,131
Assistant Professors	29	33%	$70,428
Lecturers	15	17%	$59,193

Pros & Cons of Elizabeth City State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Elizabeth City State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Wide reach of need-based federal aid

CONS

Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side

Best for: Based on the data, Elizabeth City State University is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about Elizabeth City State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Elizabeth City State University.

Is Elizabeth City State University hard to get into?

Admissions at Elizabeth City State University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 64.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Elizabeth City State University?

Elizabeth City State University has an acceptance rate of 64.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Elizabeth City State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Elizabeth City State University scored between 920 and 1080 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Elizabeth City State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Elizabeth City State University scored between 16 and 22 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Elizabeth City State University cost?

The average net price after aid at Elizabeth City State University is $6,364 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Elizabeth City State University worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,026 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,364 per year. That's roughly 6.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Elizabeth City State University known for?

Elizabeth City State University is best known for its programs in Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Criminal Justice, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Elizabeth City State University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Elizabeth City State University are $40,026, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Elizabeth City State University accredited?

Yes. Elizabeth City State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

How many students attend Elizabeth City State University?

Elizabeth City State University enrolls 1,975 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Elizabeth City State University?

Elizabeth City State University graduates 42% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Elizabeth City State University a public or private college?

Elizabeth City State University is a Public institution.

Where is Elizabeth City State University located?

Elizabeth City State University is located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

What programs does Elizabeth City State University offer?

Elizabeth City State University offers 26 distinct programs. The most popular include Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Criminal Justice, Business Administration.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Elizabeth City State University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Elizabeth City State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.