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92.3%Acceptance
$7,361Tuition
19,857Students
62%Grad Rate (6-yr)
$55,146Earnings
Public4-yearSAT/ACT Test OptionalResearch UniversityNCAA Division IStudy AbroadData: 2023-24

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate (4-year)
63.6%
Graduation Rate (6-year)
62.1%
Retention Rate
81.7%
Median Earnings (10 years after entry)
$55,146
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,750
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
17:1
Loan Repayment Rate
63.3%
Estimated Monthly Loan Payment
$241/mo

Earnings by Major

Top programs ranked by median earnings

Earnings and debt by program
Program Level Median Earnings Median Debt
Dentistry. Doctoral $119,805 $126,524
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. Doctoral $113,480 $37,063
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. Master $98,551 $59,895
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. Master $86,590 $41,971
Educational Administration and Supervision. Doctoral $78,719 $46,054
Management Information Systems and Services. Certificate $67,660
Computer and Information Sciences, General. Bachelor $66,653 $26,853
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. Doctoral $66,498 $48,646
Business Administration, Management and Operations. Certificate $66,077
Business Administration, Management and Operations. Master $64,493 $34,643
Finance and Financial Management Services. Certificate $63,005
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other. Bachelor $63,005 $20,500
Computer Science. Bachelor $61,516 $24,750
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. Master $60,452 $41,000
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. Bachelor $60,064 $24,250

Outcomes Overview

ECU graduates earn a median of $55,146 ten years after graduation, while carrying typical debt of $22,750. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, well below the concerning 1.0 threshold. Monthly loan payments of $241 represent just 5.2% of median income, making debt very manageable. The 96.1% employment rate reflects strong job placement in the region's healthcare systems, where many nursing and medical graduates find work. Pirates also land positions in education and business across eastern North Carolina. With in-state tuition under $8,000 and solid earning potential in growing fields like healthcare, ECU delivers a strong return on investment for students seeking practical career preparation.