USC Upstate vs East Carolina University
When it comes to higher education, University of South Carolina-Upstate and East Carolina University stand out as two distinct institutions with unique offerings. USC-Upstate, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is a mid-sized public university with an acceptance rate of 84%, while ECU, situated in Greenville, North Carolina, is a larger public research university with an acceptance rate of 73%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors including Business, Nursing, and Education. While USC-Upstate boasts a smaller student body with a higher percentage of female students, ECU has a larger and more diverse student population. Additionally, ECU's graduation rate is slightly higher than that of USC-Upstate. To help you make an informed decision about your academic journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more. Explore the table to discover which university aligns best with your aspirations and goals.
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![]() East Carolina University |
![]() University of South Carolina-Upstate |
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Overview |
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Location | Greenville, North Carolina | Spartanburg, South Carolina |
Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 81.0% | 61.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 93.9% | 75.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
|
Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$45
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SAT range | N/A | 950 - 1150 |
ACT range | N/A | 19 - 23 |
Students submitting SAT score | 26.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 21,898 | 2,893 |
Total number of admissions given out | 20,560 | 2,190 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,100 | 597 |
Yield rate | 19.9% | 27.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$23,215
Out of state:
$39,492
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In state:
$28,648
Out of state:
$39,610
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Average net price | $14,762 | $14,816 |
Tuition |
In state:
$4,452
Out of state:
$20,729
|
In state:
$11,208
Out of state:
$22,170
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,630
Meal plan:
$4,060
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Room/dormitory:
$5,614
Meal plan:
$3,714
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
63.0%
Average amount $7,761 |
96.0%
Average amount $8,974 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
51.0%
Average amount $5,180 |
62.0%
Average amount $5,480 |
Students taking out private loans |
8.0%
Average amount $14,093 |
4.0%
Average amount $8,248 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
22,463
Men 41.2% Women 58.8% |
4,981
Men 32.7% Women 67.3% |
Graduate students |
5,558
Men 32.6% Women 67.4% |
457
Men 13.6% Women 86.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 13.6% | 8.2% |
International students | 0.8% | 1.2% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 5,203 | 1,055 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | North Carolina Virginia Maryland Pennsylvania New York | South Carolina Georgia North Carolina Florida Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 65.8% | 47.4% |
Dropout rate | 8.3% | 19.2% |
Transferred out | 24.1% | 31.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
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Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
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