ECU vs. Ship

Comparable Facts

Compare East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Carolina University is larger than Ship based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 5,161 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

ECU vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or Ship? 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 Ship ($13,755 vs. $23,772).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 13.5% lower than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania ($11,541 vs. $13,340).
• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is 86.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $6,359 more per year; $13,720.00 vs. $7,361.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48% higher at ECU than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $7,664 more per year; $23,638.00 vs. $15,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania than at East Carolina University (90% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Carolina University students is 44.7% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($9,776 vs. $6,756).

ECU vs. Ship Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at East Carolina University (1160) is 60 points higher than at Ship (1100).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 1070/1240; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Ship - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
• Accepted freshman ECU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Ship (3.23).
• ECU has a higher acceptance rate (89.2%) than Ship (86.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 17.5% at Ship.

ECU vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and Ship? 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).

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than East Carolina University's (59%).
• Graduates from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than ECU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,200 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Carolina University graduates have a $212 lower median loan debt than Ship graduates ($24,788 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ship graduates ($256 vs. $258).
• More Ship graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 63%)

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.