East Carolina University vs San Francisco State University

East Carolina University and San Francisco State University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: East Carolina University is more selective with a 90.1% acceptance rate compared to San Francisco State University's 96.2%.

Cost: San Francisco State University offers a lower average net price at $12,882, which is $3,632 less than East Carolina University ($16,514). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from San Francisco State University earn a median salary of $68,077 ten years after enrollment, which is $12,931 more than East Carolina University graduates ($55,146).

Graduation: East Carolina University leads with a 63.6% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 81.7% vs 83.7%.

Campus Size: San Francisco State University is the larger campus with 20,033 total students, while East Carolina University has 19,857.

Bottom Line: San Francisco State University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.