ECU vs. AU

Deciding between East Carolina University and Anderson 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.

East Carolina University
Anderson University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECU Greenville, NC
  • AU Anderson, SC
  • Setting
  • ECU Small City
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ECU 26,940
  • AU 4,710
  • Type
  • ECU Public 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECU #569
  • AU #662
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECU -
  • AU Baptist
  • Status
  • ECU Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECU
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECU $7,361
  • AU $34,970
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECU $23,638
  • AU $34,970
  • Room & Board
  • ECU $11,541
  • AU $12,720
  • Average Net Price
  • ECU $13,755
  • AU $24,434
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECU $9,776
  • AU $25,969
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECU 55%
  • AU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECU 26,369
  • AU 4,548
  • Admitted
  • ECU 23,524
  • AU 2,488
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECU 89.2%
  • AU 54.7%
  • Enrolled
  • ECU 17.1%
  • AU 32.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECU 1160
  • AU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECU 23
  • AU 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECU 3.33
  • AU 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECU B+
  • AU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECU Moderate
  • AU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECU
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • ECU 21/26
  • AU 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • ECU 1070/1240
  • AU 1100/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • AU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • ECU
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECU 17:1
  • AU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECU
    • Business (19%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • AU
    • Education (37%)
    • Business (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (4%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECU 59%
  • AU 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECU $43,900
  • AU $37,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECU 63%
  • AU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECU $24,788
  • AU $26,862
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECU $256
  • AU $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECU 30%
  • AU 52%
  • % Women
  • ECU 70%
  • AU 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECU Medium
  • AU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • ECU No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • ECU 69%
  • AU 83%
  • % Asian
  • ECU 3%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • ECU 16%
  • AU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECU 6%
  • AU 3%
  • % Native American
  • ECU 1%
  • AU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECU 3%
  • AU 2%
  • % International
  • ECU 0%
  • AU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECU 2%
  • AU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECU 82%
  • AU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECU 17%
  • AU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with Anderson University in Anderson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Carolina University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 4,710 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); Anderson University is in Anderson, SC (Small City setting).
  • East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Anderson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; Anderson University 13:1.

ECU vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or AU? 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 East Carolina University than AU ($13,755 vs. $24,434).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 9.3% lower than at Anderson University ($11,541 vs. $12,720).
  • Anderson University is 375.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $27,609 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $7,361.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 47.9% higher at AU than at East Carolina University (about $11,332 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $23,638.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Anderson University than at East Carolina University (98% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 165.6% larger than aid received by East Carolina University students ($25,969 vs. $9,776).

ECU vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU or AU? 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 AU and ECU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Anderson University (1190) is 30 points higher than at ECU (1160).
  • Incoming AU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at ECU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 1070/1240; Anderson University 1100/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 21/26; Anderson University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); AU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at ECU (3.33).
  • ECU has a higher acceptance rate (89.2%) than AU (54.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 32.5% at AU.

ECU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and AU? 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).

  • East Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Anderson University's (48%).
  • Graduates from East Carolina University earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,900 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, East Carolina University graduates have a $2,074 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($24,788 vs. $26,862).
  • Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($256 vs. $277).
  • More ECU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 60%)

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.