ECU vs. UNC Chapel Hill

Comparable Facts

Compare East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than ECU based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 26,940 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting).
• East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1.

ECU vs. UNC Chapel Hill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than ECU ($10,154 vs. $13,755).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 16.4% lower than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($11,541 vs. $13,804).
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is 22.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $1,633 more per year; $8,994.00 vs. $7,361.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 74.3% higher at UNC Chapel Hill than at East Carolina University (about $17,565 more per year; $41,203.00 vs. $23,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at East Carolina University than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (55% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students is 82.2% larger than aid received by East Carolina University students ($17,814 vs. $9,776).

ECU vs. UNC Chapel Hill Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 UNC Chapel Hill and ECU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 300 points higher than at ECU (1160).
• Incoming UNC Chapel Hill students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 23 at ECU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 1070/1240; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 21/26; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); UNC Chapel Hill - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
• Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at ECU (3.33).
• ECU has a higher acceptance rate (89.2%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill.

ECU vs. UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and UNC Chapel Hill? 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).

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than East Carolina University's (59%).
• Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $22,200 more per year than ECU graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $8,309 lower median loan debt than ECU graduates ($16,479 vs. $24,788).
• Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $86 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECU graduates ($170 vs. $256).
• More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.