- East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University, located in Greenville, North Carolina, has over 29,000 active students and 5,500 faculty and staff members. Of those nearly 30,000 students, almost 9,000 of them never step foot on campus, but are enrolled in one of ECU's many online programs.
The online bachelor's and graduate programs at Eastern Carolina University are admitted and operated similarly to on-campus students, with consistently-priced tuition, as well as financial aid remaining available to online students. Online students simply have the option to choose their own classroom, uniform, and avoid having to get a parking pass. East Carolina University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or SACS, the regional accrediting body for North Carolina.
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The Good
- Competitive In-state Tuition
- Variety of Programs
- High Acceptance Rate
Competitive In-State Tuition
The cost of financing one's education is almost always a primary concern when choosing which school to attend. Students who choose Eastern Carolina University receive very competitive in-state tuition at $163.48 per credit hour for bachelor's students or $244.71 per credit hour for graduate students.
A full workload (12+ hours) will cost $2,182.50 for undergraduates or $2,328 for masters and doctorate students (9+ hours). Additional university and clinical skills fees may apply depending on the degree a student pursues.
Variety of Programs
East Carolina University offers a wide range of undergraduate distance education programs, including:
- Business
- Communication
- Education
- Health Services Management
- Hospitality Management
- Industrial Distribution and Logistics
- Industrial Technology
- Nursing
- University Studies
- Graduate students are given even more options with master's and doctoral programs, including:
- Business Administration
- Communication
- Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Computer Science
- Construction Management
- Criminal Justice
- Education
- Educational Leadership
- English
- Environmental Health
- Health Education
- Health Informatics
- Instructional Technology
- Library Science
- Music Education
- Network Technology
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Occupational Safety
- Public Administration
- School Administration
- Security Studies
- Software Engineering
- Technology Management
In addition to these above-mentioned distance education programs, ECU also offers graduate certificates and teacher licensure courses for graduates seeking additional training, but are not degree-bound. Most on-campus degrees and programs are also attainable via online classwork, without having to step onto campus, but require formal admittance into either the program or college and are not attainable via the distance education program.
High Acceptance Rate
While this may not be considered a pro for those seeking exclusivity, East Carolina University does boast a relatively high acceptance rates. This is great news for students seeking higher education but don't want to have to apply to dozens of schools in hopes of getting into just one of them.
The most recently reported acceptance rate by ECU is 69%. Almost 7 out of 10 students who applied were admitted.
The Bad
- Expensive Out-of-state Tuition
- Low Job Placement Rate
Expensive Out-of-state Tuition
While East Carolina University is seemingly affordable for residents of North Carolina, students who attend from out-of-state will pay more than three times as much. And as an online student, gaining residency in North Carolina may not be an option during attendance at ECU.
Out-of-state tuition rates at $702.60 per credit hour for undergraduate students. Out-of-state graduate students will pay $876.62 per credit hour. These out-of-state rates can make East Carolina University almost unaffordable for students who attend without grants or scholarships.
Low Job Placement Rate
One area that East Carolina University seems to lack in is its job placement services. ECU reports that only 18% of graduating students find work through ECU's job placement services. And while this may not be representative of their success rate in placing individual students with jobs, it does reflect on the university's emphasis on helping students find employment following graduation as well as the student utilization of this service.
The Bottom Line
Residents of North Carolina who are seeking an affordable online option for their higher education goals will find East Carolina University a convenient option with a wide range of online classes as well as dedicated distance education courses. These options allow a flexible schedule and work environment for achieving educational success without stepping a foot on campus.
East Carolina University may not be the best choice for non-North Carolina residents who are looking for affordable tuition or for those seeking highly-rated job placement assistance following graduation.
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