Head-to-head comparison
East Carolina University vs Queens University of Charlotte: which has better ROI?
Option A Greenville, NC
East Carolina University
- Net price / year
- $15,739
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,146
- Payback
- 9.3 yrs
Option B Charlotte, NC
Queens University of Charlotte
- Net price / year
- $30,857
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,673
- Payback
- 13.3 yrs
East Carolina University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $62,956 in 9.3 years versus 13.3 years at Queens University of Charlotte, on median earnings of $55,146 vs $57,673 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | East Carolina University | Queens University of Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,739 | $30,857 |
| Total net cost | $62,956 | $123,428 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,146 | $57,673 |
| Median debt | $22,750 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 9.3 yrs | 13.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $72,764 | $62,832 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, East Carolina University or Queens University of Charlotte?
East Carolina University, at $15,739 a year after aid versus $30,857 — a gap of $15,118 a year, or $60,472 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do East Carolina University or Queens University of Charlotte graduates earn more?
Queens University of Charlotte graduates report a median $57,673 ten years after entry, $2,527 more than the $55,146 at East Carolina University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, East Carolina University or Queens University of Charlotte?
East Carolina University: its completers carry a median $22,750 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Queens University of Charlotte, a difference of $2,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at East Carolina University, against 61% at Queens University of Charlotte. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.