[updated for 2024-2025 admission data]
How hard is ECU to get into?
This page provides the latest information on East Carolina University (ECU)'s admission process, acceptance rate, and student profile. ECU's acceptance rate is 89.21% for 2024-2025 admission. A total of 26,369 students applied and 23,524 were admitted to the school. Its acceptance rate is relatively high, making it somewhat easy to get into ECU.
To apply to ECU, personal statement (or essay) is required to submit. The SAT and ACT score is not required, but considered for admission. In addition, english proficiency test score is also considered (required).
Admission Statistics
For the academic year 2024-25, ECU's acceptance rate is 89.21% and the yield (also known as enrollment rate) is 17.10%. 9,736 men and 16,392 women applied to ECU and 8,596 men and 14,729 women students were accepted.
Among them, 1,621 men and 2,371 women were enrolled in ECU. You can explore the ECU's admission rates and SAT score trends over the past decade, including year-by-year data and analysis, by visiting Admission Trends page.
Median SAT and ACT Score
For the academic year 2025, 251 students (6% of enrolled students) submitted SAT scores and 504 students (13% of enrolled students) submitted ACT scores as part of the admission process at ECU.
The median SAT score for admitted students is 1,160, including 590 in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and 570 in SAT Math. The 75th percentile SAT EBRW score is 630 and the 25th percentile is 540. For SAT Math, the 75th percentile score is 610 and the 25th percentile is 530.
The median ACT composite score is 24, with a 75th percentile score of 26 and a 25th percentile score of 21 at ECU. The median ACT Math score is 23 and the median ACT English score is 22.
How competitive is ECU's score?
The SAT and ACT scores at East Carolina University are similar to the average score compared to similar colleges (SAT: 1,131, ACT: 23 - public research university with high research activity).
First-year Enrollment by Gender and Enrolled Type
For the academic year 2024-25, total 4,022 first-year students enrolled in ECU. The proportion of full-time students is 98.51% and part-time students is 1.49%.
By gender, the proportion of men students is 40.30% and women students is 58.95%.
The following table shows the first-year students by gender and enrolled type at ECU.
Application Requirements
It requires to submit High School GPA, High School Record (or Transcript), Completion of College Preparatory Program, English Proficiency Test, and Personal statement or essay to its applicants.
The SAT and ACT test score is not required, but considered in admission process at ECU. The english proficiency test is required .
The next table summarizes the application requirements to apply East Carolina University.
For more admission information such as minimum GPA and deadlines, see its online application page .
General Admissions Information
The following provides general admission information for applying to ECU:
- Open Admission Policy: No
- Undergraduate Application Fees: -
- Graduate Application Fees: -
- Admission Information: https://admissions.ecu.edu/
- Online Application: https://admissions.ecu.edu/apply/freshmen/
- Calendar System: Semester
- Course for High School Students: Not Offered
- Credits Accepted: Credits for Life Experiences, Advanced placement (AP) Credits
- Degree Offered: 1-Year Certificate, Bachelor, Post-Bachelor Certificate, Master, Post-Master Certificate, Doctoral (Research), Doctoral (Professional Practice)
ECU Admission Frequently Asked Questions
ECU is relatively easy to get into, with an acceptance rate of 89.21%.
ECU recommends submitting SAT or ACT scores, but they are not strictly required for admission. The average SAT score required for admission to ECU is 1,160, and the average ACT score is 24. Meeting or exceeding these scores will improve your chances of admission.
Yes, ECU requires applicants to submit a personal essay or statement as part of the application.
ECU does not require or recommend a recommendation letter for admission. However, it may be required for certain programs or scholarships.
ECU does not require an application fee for undergraduate or graduate admission.
Yes, ECU requires applicants to submit high school GPA, high school record or transcript as part of the admission process.
Yes, ECU requires international applicants to submit an English proficiency test (like TOEFL or IELTS) as part of the application.
The institutional SAT code for ECU is 5180 and 4-digit ACT code is 3094.