K-State vs. ECU

Deciding between Kansas State University and East Carolina 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.

Kansas State University
East Carolina University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • K-State Manhattan, KS
  • ECU Greenville, NC
  • Setting
  • K-State Remote Town
  • ECU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • K-State 20,295
  • ECU 26,940
  • Type
  • K-State Public 4 Year
  • ECU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • K-State #510
  • ECU #569
  • Religious Affiliation
  • K-State -
  • ECU -
  • Status
  • K-State Non-profit
  • ECU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • K-State
  • ECU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • K-State $11,221
  • ECU $7,361
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • K-State $28,568
  • ECU $23,638
  • Room & Board
  • K-State $12,830
  • ECU $11,541
  • Average Net Price
  • K-State $20,527
  • ECU $13,755
  • Average Grant Aid
  • K-State $9,270
  • ECU $9,776
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • K-State 92%
  • ECU 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • K-State 15,509
  • ECU 26,369
  • Admitted
  • K-State 12,669
  • ECU 23,524
  • Acceptance Rate
  • K-State 81.7%
  • ECU 89.2%
  • Enrolled
  • K-State 27.5%
  • ECU 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • K-State 1160
  • ECU 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • K-State 23
  • ECU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • K-State 3.77
  • ECU 3.33
  • Typical High School Grades
  • K-State A-
  • ECU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • K-State Average
  • ECU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • K-State
  • ECU
  • ACT Range
  • K-State 20/27
  • ECU 21/26
  • SAT Range
  • K-State 1060/1260
  • ECU 1070/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • K-State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • ECU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • K-State
  • ECU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • K-State 19:1
  • ECU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • K-State
    • Business (17%)
    • Agriculture (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • ECU
    • Business (19%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • K-State 56%
  • ECU 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • K-State $49,700
  • ECU $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • K-State 70%
  • ECU 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • K-State $22,500
  • ECU $24,788
  • Median Loan Payment
  • K-State $232
  • ECU $256

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • K-State 39%
  • ECU 30%
  • % Women
  • K-State 61%
  • ECU 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • K-State Low
  • ECU Medium
  • HBCU
  • K-State No
  • ECU No
  • % White
  • K-State 78%
  • ECU 69%
  • % Asian
  • K-State 1%
  • ECU 3%
  • % Black
  • K-State 4%
  • ECU 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • K-State 7%
  • ECU 6%
  • % Native American
  • K-State 0%
  • ECU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • K-State 0%
  • ECU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • K-State 3%
  • ECU 3%
  • % International
  • K-State 6%
  • ECU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • K-State 1%
  • ECU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • K-State 71%
  • ECU 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • K-State 28%
  • ECU 17%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS with East Carolina University in Greenville, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Carolina University is larger than K-State based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 20,295 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, KS (Remote Town setting); East Carolina University is in Greenville, NC (Small City setting).
  • Kansas State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kansas State University 19:1; East Carolina University 17:1.

K-State vs. ECU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, K-State or ECU? 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 K-State ($13,755 vs. $20,527).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 10% lower than at Kansas State University ($11,541 vs. $12,830).
  • Kansas State University is 52.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $3,860 more per year; $11,221.00 vs. $7,361.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.9% higher at K-State than at East Carolina University (about $4,930 more per year; $28,568.00 vs. $23,638.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kansas State University than at East Carolina University (92% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by East Carolina University students is 5.5% larger than aid received by Kansas State University students ($9,776 vs. $9,270).

K-State vs. ECU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, K-State or ECU? 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 ECU and K-State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kansas State University (1160) is the same as at ECU (1160).
  • Incoming K-State students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 23) as students at ECU (23).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 1060/1260; East Carolina University 1070/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 20/27; East Carolina University 21/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: K-State - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); ECU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at ECU (3.33).
  • ECU has a higher acceptance rate (89.2%) than K-State (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.5% at K-State vs. 17.1% at ECU.

K-State vs. ECU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for K-State and ECU? 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 Kansas State University's (56%).
  • Graduates from Kansas State University earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than ECU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,700 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kansas State University graduates have a $2,288 lower median loan debt than ECU graduates ($22,500 vs. $24,788).
  • Among borrowers, K-State graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECU graduates ($232 vs. $256).
  • More K-State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.