Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, North Carolina · Public · 64.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 23/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Elizabeth City State University, an HBCU in coastal North Carolina, posts a Below Benchmark ROI score of 23/100, anchored by weak post-graduation outcomes despite genuinely affordable sticker pricing. In-state tuition runs $6,536 and the average net price after aid lands at just $6,364, totaling about $25,456 over four years. The problem is the back end: average earnings six years after entry are only $25,100, climbing to a median of roughly $40,026 by year ten. Median federal debt of $21,463 against those early earnings produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.855 and a payback period of 32.9 years, both of which hammer the score. The 43.5% completion rate keeps too many borrowers in the worst position, holding debt without a credential, and the three-year repayment rate of 36.4% confirms many alumni struggle to make progress on principal. ECSU's mission and access role are real, but on a pure dollars-in, dollars-out basis the math is challenging unless a student finishes and lands in a higher-paying program.
How Elizabeth City State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score23/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period32.9 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Elizabeth City State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,536/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $10,536/yr |
| Average net price | $6,364/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $25,456 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,026 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $25,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,463 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 32.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 43.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,975 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $6,536/year ($10,536/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $6,364/year, or roughly $25,456 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $4,246/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $15,663/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,463, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($25,100) and comes to 0.85, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $4,246 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $4,538 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,354 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $10,205 |
| $110,001+ | $15,663 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay just $4,246 net per year, and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $4,538. With Pell and state aid stacking on top of low tuition, four-year out-of-pocket cost can land near $17,000. The math works on the cost side, but weak completion and early-career earnings still make borrowing risky.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households in the $48,001-$75,000 range pay $5,354 net, and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket jumps to $10,205. Combined with median 10-year earnings of $40,026, middle-income borrowers should run the numbers carefully.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $15,663 net per year, which exceeds the $6,536 in-state sticker tuition because room, board, and fees are layered on with little institutional aid. Over four years that's roughly $62,652. For full-pay families the value proposition rests almost entirely on whether the student completes and selects a higher-earning major like Computer Science.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Elizabeth City State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,239 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $49,903 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $48,398 | - |
| Biology | $53,625 | - |
| Teacher Education | $50,146 | - |
| Social Work | $45,224 | C |
| Computer Science | $68,723 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
ECSU's largest program by graduates (43), Criminal Justice posts a D ROI grade. Four-year median earnings of $50,239 look reasonable, but median debt of $23,903 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.803, which is the warning flag. Career paths into law enforcement, corrections, and public-sector roles are stable but offer slow wage growth, making this a finish-the-degree-or-don't-borrow calculation.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the second-largest cohort (35 graduates) and the highest-rated program with a C+ ROI grade. Four-year median earnings of $49,903 against $26,576 of median debt yields a 0.533 debt-to-earnings ratio, which is workable. Graduates fan out across retail management, small-business operations, and public-sector administrative roles in eastern North Carolina.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
With 33 graduates and four-year earnings of $48,398, Kinesiology produces moderate outcomes. Scorecard does not report median debt or ROI grade for this cohort, but early-career earnings of $26,821 suggest most alumni take 3-5 years to reach the $40K+ range. Career paths into physical therapy require graduate school; without it, fitness and corporate wellness roles dominate.
Biology
Biology (31 graduates) shows $53,625 in four-year earnings, the second-highest at ECSU. Debt and ROI grade are unreported, but most strong outcomes here depend on graduate or professional school in healthcare. Students who terminate at the bachelor's typically land in lab tech or science teaching roles in the $40-50K band.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (20 graduates) hits $50,146 in four-year earnings, in line with North Carolina starting salary schedules. The pipeline into rural eastern NC districts is direct, and state loan forgiveness for teachers in high-need areas materially improves the effective ROI even though Scorecard's grade is unreported.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 26.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 36.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 29.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 35.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Elizabeth City State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 64.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 450-520 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 470-560 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-22 |
| Enrollment | 1,975 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 53.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,621 |
ECSU is moderately selective with a 64.2% admission rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth City State University (this school) | 23 | $6,364 | $40,026 |
| Tuskegee University | 26 | $35,013 | $49,641 |
| Virginia State University | 21 | $15,840 | $45,543 |
| Norfolk State University | 20 | $15,282 | $44,666 |
| Edward Waters University | 15 | $13,649 | $34,782 |
| Paine College | 14 | $16,670 | $33,338 |
Who Thrives Here
More than half the student body (53.5%) receives Pell Grants, and enrollment of about 1,975 keeps classes small. ECSU fits North Carolina residents who need a low-cost, mission-aligned HBCU close to home and who want the historically Black college experience. Students aiming at Computer Science (which posts $68,723 median earnings four years post-graduation) or Business (C+ ROI grade) capture most of the upside here. Students who are unsure about persistence face real risk given the sub-50% completion rate.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Elizabeth City State University scores 23/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $6,364 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $40,026 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 32.9 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 43.5% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 36.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,463 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $25,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Elizabeth City State University: Common Questions
Is Elizabeth City State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Elizabeth City State University scores 23/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $6,364 a year after aid against $40,026 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 32.9 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Elizabeth City State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $6,364 a year, or roughly $25,456 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Elizabeth City State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $40,026 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off Elizabeth City State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 32.9 years for Elizabeth City State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Elizabeth City State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,463, against average earnings of $25,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Elizabeth City State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 43.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.