More selective than 13% of North Carolina colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
9% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 18% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose ECU over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
High school GPA of ECU first-year students
Share of fall 2024 first-year students in each high school GPA range; the average was 3.28. Colleges report GPAs as they record them, weighted or not.
Items C11-C12; enrolled students, not admitted students. Common Data Set 2024-25 (fall 2024 first-year students), published by the college.
ECU SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, ECU is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 540 | 630 |
| SAT math | 530 | 610 |
| ACT composite | 21 | 26 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1070 | 1240 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
ECU admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 89% | 540–630 | 530–610 | 21–26 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 90% | 530–610 | 520–590 | 20–26 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is ECU compared with other North Carolina colleges?
ECU has the 49th-lowest acceptance rate of 56 North Carolina colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | 85% | 48% | $20,689 |
| 46 | North Carolina Central University | 87% | 42% | $15,359 |
| 47 | Campbell University | 87% | 61% | $24,516 |
| 48 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 89% | 56% | $10,965 |
| 49 | East Carolina University | 89% | 63% | $15,739 |
| 50 | Appalachian State University | 90% | 75% | $16,836 |
| 51 | Wingate University | 91% | 46% | $20,748 |
| 52 | University of North Carolina Asheville | 92% | 54% | $12,250 |
| 53 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | 93% | 44% | $10,260 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All North Carolina colleges →
Who enrolls at ECU
College Scorecard; IPEDS
ECU admissions questions
What is the ECU acceptance rate?
East Carolina University accepts 89% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 20,073 of 22,289 applicants were admitted.
Does ECU require the SAT or ACT?
East Carolina University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 9% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 18% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for ECU?
The middle 50% of East Carolina University enrolled first-year students scored 1070–1240 on the SAT and 21–26 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at ECU?
20% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (3,941 of 20,073).
Is ECU getting harder to get into?
East Carolina University accepted 89% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 90% for Fall 2023.
Is ECU the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; ECU's Common Data Set 2024-25; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to East Carolina University overview