ECU remains a Best Bang for the Buck school in new ranking

Published Sep 07, 2023 by

Crystal Baity

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East Carolina University is in the top 15% of Best Bang for the Buck schools in the Southeast according to an annual ranking released Aug. 28 by Washington Monthly. In addition, ECU ranked in the top 20% of all U.S. universities.

Washington Monthly ranks four-year schools (national universities, liberal arts colleges, baccalaureate and master’s universities) based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research and providing opportunities for public service.

East Carolina University ranked in the top 15% in the nation for service in a new ranking. (ECU photo by Rhett Butler)

The social mobility part also informs the Best Bang for the Buck rankings that are organized regionally. ECU was listed No. 42 out of 288 in the Southeast, an area that includes Alabama, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. The Best Bang for the Buck ranking is designed to help moderate to low-income students find schools with marketable degrees at affordable prices, according to Washington Monthly.

“The Monthly gives points to those that help nonwealthy students earn remunerative degrees, encourage students to vote and serve their country, and produce the scholars and scholarship that drive economic growth and human betterment,” according to a story on the Monthly’s website.

Nationally, ECU was No. 86 out of 442 schools. ECU’s service, social mobility and research rankings were 66, 81 and 226, respectively. This places ECU in the top 15% in the nation for service and in the top 20% for social mobility.

A total of 1,487 — public, private, nonprofit and for-profit — institutions were evaluated for the 2023 College Guide. More on the methodology for the rankings is available online.

In a separate ranking, ECU has consistently been recognized by Washington Monthly as a Best College for Student Voting for its commitment to increasing the number of student voters.

ECU Institutional Planning, Assessment and Research contributed to this story.