Academics, affordability make ECU top three Best Value in NC

Academics, affordability make ECU top three Best Value in NC

A combination of academics and affordability makes East Carolina University a top three Best Value public institution in North Carolina in a new national ranking.

ECU also remains a Top Performer on Social Mobility among North Carolina's public institutions, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best Colleges rankings released today.

Best Value schools are those that are above average academically and cost considerably less than many other schools when financial aid is considered. Factors used for the ranking include: percentage of undergraduates receiving need-based scholarships and grants; the average discount from out-of-state sticker price relative to the average need-based grant; and the percentage of need-based aid recipients receiving scholarships or grants. ECU ranks 117th of 207 institutions and improved from last year's ranking of Best Value Schools.

The social mobility ranking relates to how well schools graduate economically disadvantaged students. The rankings were compiled by assessing graduation rates of Pell Grant-awarded students. ECU ranks 117th of 433 institutions in this category.

ECU is also one of two UNC system schools ranked best for undergraduate entrepreneurship. This ranking comes from peer assessment surveys of deans and senior faculty members conducted in the spring and summer.

ECU finished at No. 104 in the Top Public (National) Schools category and fourth in the UNC System of 225 U.S. universities ranked.

In the Best for Veterans, ECU finished fourth among UNC System schools. To be ranked in this category, a school must be in the top half in a Best College category, certified for the GI bill, and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program or be a public institution. Ranking is based on enrollment of and benefits for veterans and active-duty service members.

Overall, ECU was No. 192 of 434 national universities ranked by U.S. News. National universities offer a range of undergraduate majors plus master's and doctoral programs and emphasize faculty research, according to U.S. News. Ranking factors include student outcomes (52% of weight), peer assessment (20%), faculty resources, financial resources, standardized tests and faculty research.

In addition, several ECU bachelor's degree programs reviewed in peer surveys were included in the rankings:

• No. 60 of 291 in engineering (at institutions with no doctorate in engineering) and No. 1 in the UNC System
• No. 98 of 686 in nursing
• No. 194 of 533 in business.

Go to the U.S. News website for more information.

ECU Institutional Planning, Assessment and Research contributed to this story.

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