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East Carolina University

5 Reviews

Salary Score

Bachelor's

 43

Master's

 37

Doctoral

 25

100% of 5 students said this degree improved their career prospects
80% of 5 students said they would recommend this school to others
By the OnlineU team | Updated 2/21/2023

Founded in 1907, East Carolina University (ECU) is a public institution that offers more than 100 online degree and certificate programs. ECU’s online programs are taught by its on-campus teaching faculty, so prospective students can expect to receive the same quality of education. Some programs are entirely online or require some in-person instruction. In addition, ECU has a wide range of online student resources, like academic advising, career services, a writing center, tutoring, an online library, and IT support.

Fast Facts

Average Financial Aid: $8,194

Accreditation: East Carolina University is acredited by 22 agencies

Find an Online Degree:

Rankings by Salary Score and Affordability

Salary Score for Online Degrees at East Carolina University

Bachelor's Degrees

Health and Medical Administrative Services $21,500 $46,750 82
Marketing $25,000 $44,500 68
Communication and Media Studies $23,004 $33,632 58
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas $24,250 $37,576 57
Computer and Information Sciences, General $26,706 $58,120 55
Business Administration, Management and Operations $23,124 $42,335 52
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods $21,984 $36,077 50
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services $23,750 $30,045 48
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions $25,000 $31,205 48
Engineering, General $23,105 $61,056 46
Special Education and Teaching $26,499 $38,283 45
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing $24,319 $61,076 33
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities $25,500 $29,127 33
Management Information Systems and Services $25,958 $48,057 31
Hospitality Administration/Management $26,200 $33,479 29
Accounting and Related Services $24,000 $43,561 29
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions $26,434 $34,509 16

Master's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions $60,572 $101,084 60
Library Science and Administration $30,750 $44,967 59
Educational Administration and Supervision $38,878 $57,844 57
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services Not Reported $49,450 56
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions $41,000 $58,725 55
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Not Reported $41,084 40
Student Counseling and Personnel Services $41,000 $42,605 40
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas $22,000 $47,068 39
Business Administration, Management and Operations $28,479 $63,622 37
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing $42,156 $92,078 37
English Language and Literature, General Not Reported $41,477 35
Educational/Instructional Media Design $20,500 $51,686 34
Public Health $41,000 $44,244 25
Health and Physical Education/Fitness $21,250 $36,994 21
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods $20,500 $39,271 14

Doctoral Degrees

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Not Reported $99,598 25

FAQs About East Carolina University

Is East Carolina Online?


Yes, ECU is a popular online university. Although ECU offers traditional programs on its Greenville campus, it has several online programs as well. ECU offers more than 100 online programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. These online programs are delivered either 100% online or require some campus visits. In regards to distance learning, 21% of students are solely enrolled in online courses

Are Online Degrees From East Carolina Legitimate?


Yes, online degrees awarded by ECU are legitimate. Prospective students can consider ECU’s online degree programs legitimate because the university holds accreditation. Accreditation is given to colleges and universities that meet the standard quality requirements to deliver and award degrees. ECU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctorate degrees, and certificates. 

At OnlineU, we only include accredited online colleges and universities on our site. 

Is East Carolina a Good College?


Many consider ECU a good college because it has received recognition for its top-notch education. As one of the largest North Carolina colleges, ECU has ranked in the top 25% for various areas, like Social Mobility Index (SMI), graduate employability, online learning, and more. In addition, ECU was awarded for being one of the top colleges for diversity in 2021 by the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. 

What Is East Carolina Known For?


Top Producer of Health Care Professionals in North Carolina

According to ECU’s website, through its Division of Health Sciences, ECU is North Carolina’s top producer of healthcare professionals. The university is ranked #1 for graduating nurses among North Carolina’s public four-year institutions. In addition, ECU is the #1 provider of allied health professionals in North Carolina.

First-Generation Forward Recognition

ECU is recognized for working with first-generation students. ECU was part of the 2021-2022 First-gen Forward recognition program class. The program acknowledges colleges and universities committed to ensuring the academic success of first-generation students. 

Supports Military Service Members and Veterans

ECU offers services to veterans, service members, and their families. Some services available at ECU include a Veterans Affairs Office, a Military & Veteran Resource Center, Army TA, and more.

Which Degrees at East Carolina Provide the Highest Earnings for Graduates?


According to College Scorecard data, the following three online undergraduate degrees provide the highest median earnings for graduates at ECU: 

(1) Computer and information sciences (~$96,900) 

(2) Computer science (~$81,246)

(3) Management information systems and services (~$67,000)

Prospective students can pursue a range of online undergraduate majors within these field categories, including a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science, a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology.

Also, OnlineU’s proprietary Salary Score ranks colleges by how much their alums earn compared to graduates with the same degree nationwide. ECU’s salary scores are 43 out of 100 for bachelor’s degrees, 37 for master's degrees, and 25 for doctoral degrees. 

Is Getting Into Johnson Difficult?


ECU accepts 94% of applicants so it's easy to get into the program of your choice. A 94% acceptance rate is relatively high, meaning most students who complete the application process and meet the minimum requirements are admitted into ECU’s degree programs. 

Also, ECU doesn’t require applicants to submit their SAT or ACT scores during admissions. This increases accessibility to higher education for many prospective students. 

What GPA Do You Need To Get Into East Carolina?


Applicants must meet the minimum GPA requirements to be eligible for ECU's online degree programs. ECU doesn’t provide a GPA requirement for first-year admissions but mentions that the middle 50% of their fall 2021 semester had an unweighted GPA between 3.46 to 3.74. This range indicates that applicants should have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be admitted to ECU.

What Are the Admission Requirements for East Carolina?


Students who want to attend ECU’s online school must complete the school's online application process. Listed below is the checklist for applying to ECU: 

  • Complete the online application through ECU, CFNC, or the Common App.
  • Pay the nonrefundable application fee of $75.
  • Submit official high school transcripts and current GPA (for high school seniors).

ECU has rolling admissions but encourages first-year applicants to apply early because the university only accepts 4,200 but receives over 20,000 applications.

Student Reviews

Student Reviews

Write a Review 

MPN

Reviewed: 6/29/2021

Degree: MBA in Management

I started in the Spring of 2021 and so far its been challenging at best. The curriculum is not theory or written based. It consist of a lot of proctored exams that students pay for that cost (approx $18.00) and if you have more than one course then you do the math. Being someone that has some academic experience I was not aware that the ECU MBA is a follow - up to their undergrad courses. The professor's have been there for quite a while and have not changed the material for several semesters so... Read More

Tyla F.

Reviewed: 1/22/2017

Degree: Business Administration

ECU is a great university with varied course offerings. The head of the hospitality program is great, as are the teachers in the hospitality and business major sectors. Some of the guidance counselors are awesome but some are questionable and you have to stay on top of things or they will cause you to miss out on classes or plan your schedule in such a way that you're not maximizing your time and getting out as fast as you should.

T.J.

Reviewed: 9/26/2016

Degree: Communications

I would encourage all students, particularly working adults, to consider East Carolina University's Online Continuing Studies program. The instructors, advisors, and curriculum are all geared toward the needs and interests of older students. A great program!

Working Student

Reviewed: 4/30/2015

Degree: Business

I do not recommend taking the MBA program at ECU. I am an Alumnae of ECU and WAS proud to return to get my Masters. After two difficult semesters that I enjoyed, I had to take Dr. Bello's Comparative Management class. This class is hard, which I am not the type of person to run from a challenge. But this kind of hard is because of the "teacher" himself. He does not teach! He provides a book that he combined from two other books and wants you to memorize the material. I personally asked for feedback... Read More

Amber Marie Ireland

Reviewed: 9/18/2014

Degree: Veterinary Science

This place is full of diversity. I promise you, you will always find a place to fit in here at ECU. The campus is gorgeous. There are several resources available to you, you just have to be willing to look. Most of the professors I have had are more than willing to work with you, as long as you show an interest and they notice your hard work. They have free tutoring at the Pirate Tutoring Center throughout different times to help fit into your schedule. The library has also recently been updated... Read More