ECU trustees back 3% resident undergrad tuition hike for 2027-28, new students only

GREENVILLE, NC (WCTI) — East Carolina University trustees voted to recommend tuition and fee increases for the 2027-28 academic year, including a 3% increase for resident undergraduate tuition.

The proposed tuition increases would apply to incoming and future students.

Current students would not be affected, according to information provided to trustees.

The tuition recommendations still need approval from the UNC System Board of Governors.

Under the undergraduate proposal, resident tuition would increase by $137.54, from $4,584.96 to $4,722.50.

ECU projects the increase would generate $654,250 in its first year.

The money would support faculty and staff recruitment and retention, experiential learning and emerging technologies.

Graduate tuition would increase 5%.

Resident rates would rise by $249.92 to $5,237, while nonresident rates would increase by $939.92 to $19,733.

ECU projects $1.3 million in new revenue, with most going to graduate assistantships and the remainder supporting two Graduate School positions.

Brody School of Medicine tuition would increase 8.7% for incoming first-year students starting in fall 2027.

Resident tuition would rise by $2,000 to $24,977, and nonresident tuition would increase by $4,470 to $55,844.

ECU projects $200,000 in new revenue for an additional course coordinator, technology investments and operating support.

Current Brody students would not be affected.

At the School of Dental Medicine, resident tuition would increase 10.1%, or $3,800, to $41,307.

ECU projects $724,546 in new revenue to support academic costs in the Service Learning Center, an assistant dean for admissions, a student engagement coordinator, and student liability insurance.

The proposals also include tuition differentials for some programs:

• $30 per credit hour for counselor education.
• $15 for the Master of School Administration.
• $35 for the Educational Leadership Ed.D.
• $166 for certain College of Business certificates.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy differential would increase from $115.55 to $149.49 per credit hour, an annual increase of $611.

Separate fee proposals include a housing increase of 0% to 4%, depending on the building and room type.

ECU projects the changes would generate $1.27 million. The materials cite renovation debt, utility and operating costs, legislative salary increases and maintenance costs.

The School of Dental Medicine’s student housing fee would increase 12.3%, from $1,590 to $1,785.

Other proposals include a $50 transfer orientation fee beginning in fall 2027, compared with the current $20 online orientation fee, and a transcript fee increase from $7 to $10. ECU’s presentation says it is not recommending increases to mandatory fees.

The recommendation follows a separate 3% tuition increase approved for future undergraduates for the 2026-27 academic year.