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A woman wearing a lab coat is engaged in a project, using tools and materials in a well-lit lab environment.

Elite Research Institution

East Carolina University has officially been designated a Research 1 (R1) university. This achievement places ECU among the nation’s top-tier research universities.

Students at graduation ceremony. Man in middle, wearing a purple cap and gown and sunglasses, is cheering with arms outstretched.

Spring 2025 Commencement

Pirate Nation is preparing to welcome graduates, families and friends to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for the Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony on May 9.

Young people lying on their stomachs on well-maintained grass, eating snacks and laughing. Building in background.

Life on Campus

Learn about life on campus and virtually tour residence halls, explore campus neighborhoods and learn about Living Learning Communities.

Academics at ECU

Find yourself immersed in a vibrant and academically rigorous community built around twelve colleges and schools, including eight that offer undergraduate degree programs.

The Princeton Review 2024, the 389 best colleges

The Princeton Review: 2024 Best 389 Colleges

Number one in producing medical grads who practice in N.C.

in producing medical grads who practice in N.C.

Top twenty-five percent in graduate programs, U.S. News & World Report

Graduate programs, U.S. News & World Report

Innovation and Economic Prosperity University APLU CICEP

For commitment to economic engagement

A campuswide celebration of ECU’s R1 status featured a panel discussion, student research posters, jazz and more.

ECU’s School of Theatre and Dance presents a dynamic performance exploring identity and connection.

Geoff Anthony is wearing scuba diving equipment including a white shirt, black wetsuit components, and a white cap is working underwater on a sandy ocean floor. He is writing on a clipboard while using a measuring tape. Coral formations are visible in the background, and the water is a clear blue color.

Geoff Anthony’s journey blends his Marine Corps legacy with a passion for maritime studies and service recovery.

Charlotte Pete battled through a devastating COVID-19 related brain injury to graduate as a Pirate occupational therapist

Two dumptrucks ride on a road covered in dirt in front of boarded-up and damaged buildings.

Six months after Hurricane Helene destroyed parts of western North Carolina, ECU alumni continue to help rebuild roads and infrastructure.

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Give to ECU

Admitted students days

Student: Riley Bessetti

Faculty: Dr. Morgan Milton

Explore ECU through the lenses of our university’s photographers.

Virtual tour Schedule a visit

A blonde woman dressed in a purple collared ECU shirt speaks with a parent visiting campus for Pirates Aboard

A smiling family poses for a photo while holding up Pirate hooks during their campus visit

An ECU student in a purple sweatshirt helps answer a parent's question while tabling at a student event

ECU Flickr gallery

Take a quick, by-the-numbers look at our university.

ECU is the only university in North Carolina with a dental school, medical school, and college of engineering at the same institution.