Head-to-head comparison
North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs East Carolina University: which has better ROI?
Option A Raleigh, NC
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Net price / year
- $17,303
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,758
- Payback
- 3.4 yrs
Option B Greenville, NC
East Carolina University
- Net price / year
- $15,739
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,146
- Payback
- 9.3 yrs
North Carolina State University at Raleigh has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $69,212 in 3.4 years versus 9.3 years at East Carolina University, on median earnings of $68,758 vs $55,146 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | East Carolina University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,303 | $15,739 |
| Total net cost | $69,212 | $62,956 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $68,758 | $55,146 |
| Median debt | $20,121 | $22,750 |
| Payback | 3.4 yrs | 9.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $338,748 | $72,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, North Carolina State University at Raleigh or East Carolina University?
East Carolina University, at $15,739 a year after aid versus $17,303 — a gap of $1,564 a year, or $6,256 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh or East Carolina University graduates earn more?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates report a median $68,758 ten years after entry, $13,612 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, North Carolina State University at Raleigh or East Carolina University?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh: its completers carry a median $20,121 in federal loans versus $22,750 at East Carolina University, a difference of $2,629. 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?
85% of students finish at North Carolina State University at Raleigh, against 63% at East Carolina University. 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.