For High School Counselors

Here at ECU, we recognize the important role high school counselors have in guiding students through the college admission process. We hope this information will be useful as you assist your students in applying to East Carolina University.


Freshman Profile

For the Fall 2023 semester, we received over 22,000 applications for an incoming class of 3,900. The median GPA of admitted students was 3.81 (weighted).


Honors College

We encourage you to recommend the ECU Honors College to your high-achieving students. All students accepted into the Honors College receive a four-year scholarship at varying levels. Other benefits include:

  • Preferred housing
  • High-impact experiences
  • Community atmosphere
  • Priority registration and additional advising
  • Priority admission to graduate programs

To be eligible, students must meet ONE of the following minimum criteria within high school achievement categories:

  • Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.7
  • Minimum weighted GPA of 4.0
  • Minimum SAT score of 1330
  • Minimum ACT score of 29

To be eligible for the Honors College, students must submit their completed ECU application by October 15, 2024 (transcripts and/or test scores must be received by this date as well). Eligible students will then be invited to complete the Honors College application by December 3, 2024.

ECU Honors College >


Stay Informed

Join our mailing list by filling out a short form. We’ll keep you abreast of the latest news and opportunities for your students.

Download the 2024-2025 High School Counselor Desk Reference (PDF).


Counselor Receptions

ECU offers opportunities for you to join fellow counselors and learn more about our great university. At our receptions held across North Carolina, you will gain valuable insights into ECU’s degree programs and the admissions process. It’s a great chance to connect with admissions staff and gather information to assist your students.  Watch for your invitation; events are held annually.


Your Students Can Discover ECU

Your students can learn about our wide range of outstanding programs by completing our request for information form. We will send them helpful information about ECU and the admissions process.

Request Info >


A Complete Application for Freshman Admission Includes

  • A completed online application (including essay) through CFNC, the Common App or our website.
  • Nonrefundable $75 application fee or fee waiver
  • Official high school transcript including senior year courses in progress and current grade point average on a 4.0 scale
  • Transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended including community college dual enrollment
  • Students applying for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 terms who have a weighted high school GPA less than 2.8 are required to submit a standardized test score (ACT or SAT). Students with a weighted high school GPA of 2.8 or higher are not required to submit a test score.

Official documents should be sent to:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Mailstop 517
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858-4353

Or emailed to admissions@ecu.edu.

Encourage your students to use our Application Checklist via their Navigator account to check the status of their application and track our receipt of official documents.


Deadlines: Freshman Applications for Admission

  • October 15, 2024: Deadline to be eligible to apply to the Honors College (transcripts must be received by this date)
  • December 15, 2024: Deadline to be eligible to apply for other merit-based university scholarships
  • April 1, 2025: Final freshman application deadline

While the general application deadline is April 1, applicants are encouraged to apply early. We offer rolling admission, which means that as soon as we have a student’s completed application, we will get a decision out to them.


Fee Waivers

Students are able to select the option for a fee waiver in their application. Official waivers from high school counselors must be submitted to admissions@ecu.edu.


Degree Explorer

We have a valuable tool that can help you and your students discover more about ECU’s vast degree offering. Degree Explorer provides quick access to the following information for each degree program:

  • The courses students in that program will take
  • What makes that particular degree special at ECU
  • Career opportunities the degree could unlock for graduates

Degree Explorer >


Counselor Events for You

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions hosts several events to learn how we can serve you better and to inform you about ECU’s academic colleges, student services, financial aid and scholarships.

  • Counselor Receptions – evening events held around the state
  • Counselor Sail-In! – an annual gathering on ECU’s Greenville campus
  • Parent Nights and College Fairs – our counselors are available as resources for you

For additional information, please contact Patti Clements at clementsp15@ecu.edu.


Get Connected

We invite you and your students to connect with us on Facebook, X and Instagram. Stay up to date on important announcements and upcoming events, receive deadline reminders, and get a glimpse into student life and what it’s like to be a Pirate. Be sure to check out our student blog and YouTube channel as well.