Elizabeth City State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Elizabeth City State University charges a net price of $6,364/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $25,456. Median earnings ten years after entry are $40,026, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Elizabeth City State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #45 of 115 North Carolina colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $6,364/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $25,456 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $40,026 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$8,334/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,463 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$192,136 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Elizabeth City State University's own numbers. Net price $6,364 × 4 years = $25,456 total. Median earnings $40,026 fall $8,334 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $25,456 bill in about 2.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Elizabeth City State University students graduate with?
A median $21,463 in federal loans among completers, or 54% of the $40,026 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Elizabeth City State University students graduate?
44% finish their degree — 56% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $25,456 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $57,855 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Elizabeth City State University expensive compared with other North Carolina colleges?
Its $6,364 net price runs $4,482 below the $10,846 median across the 115 North Carolina colleges we profile, and $17,928 less across the full degree.