Elizabeth City, N.C. — The nation is taking notice and Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) just made another move up the national rankings, climbing in several key categories in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges.
In the U.S. News & World Report rankings, one of ECSU’s largest moves came among HBCUs, where the university jumped from No. 18 to No. 11. The university ranks fourth among public HBCUs, and second in North Carolina.
Among Top Public Schools—Regional Colleges (South), ECSU moved from No. 3 to No. 2.
Its overall Regional Colleges (South) ranking climbed from No. 9 to No. 7.
And for the first time, ECSU earned the No. 1 spot among Best Colleges for Veterans—Regional Colleges (South).
The rankings are not just a measure of reputation. U.S. News evaluates more than 1,700 colleges and universities nationwide using up to 17 factors designed to measure academic quality and graduate success. The methodology provides a data-driven look at institutions, considering multiple measures rather than a single indicator of success.
“The U.S. News & World Report rankings are a reflection of the work happening at Elizabeth City State University, and that work is producing results,” said Chancellor S. Keith Hargrove, Sr.
For ECSU, the latest rankings arrive amid measurable growth and continued investment across the university—from enrollment and retention to academics, student support, workforce development, partnerships and the campus itself.
And perhaps one of the clearest measures of that momentum is the number of students choosing ECSU—and choosing to stay.
A Decade of Growth
Ten years ago, ECSU enrolled 1,359 students. This fall, the university welcomed 2,445—an 80% increase since fall 2016 and the university’s 10th consecutive year of enrollment growth.
Fall 2026 enrollment increased 3.6% from 2,360 students last year, extending a decade-long climb that has added 1,086 students to the Viking community.
“Ten consecutive years of enrollment growth is more than a milestone—it is a powerful affirmation of the direction of Elizabeth City State University,” said Chancellor S. Keith Hargrove, Sr. “Students and families are choosing ECSU because they see a university that is growing, innovating and creating new pathways to opportunity. We are proud of this momentum, and we are even more excited about where it is taking us.”
The fall 2026 student body includes continuing, first-time, transfer, returning, high school, certificate, graduate, special and transient students.
Both new and returning Vikings are driving the growth. Undergraduate enrollment increased 3.24%, new first-time student enrollment jumped nearly 13%, transfer enrollment surged 34.87%, and returning students increased 31.43%.
The surge in transfer enrollment is particularly significant. With transfer enrollment increasing 34.87% this fall, ECSU welcomed the largest transfer class in university history, marking another milestone in the university’s decade-long enrollment climb.
ECSU is also retaining more of the students who choose the university. The university’s retention rate stands at 83.7%, showing continued progress not only in attracting students to ECSU, but in keeping them on the path toward earning their degrees.
This fall’s enrollment also marks another notable shift in the makeup of the Viking community, with male students outnumbering female students.
“Growth at ECSU is happening across the student experience,” Hargrove said. “We are welcoming more first-time students, attracting more transfer students and re-engaging students who are returning to complete their educational journeys. At the same time, our academic programs are evolving to meet the interests of today’s students and the workforce needs of tomorrow. That combination—student demand and academic opportunity—is a strong indicator of the university’s continued ascent.”
Growth Beyond the Numbers
Aviation Science remains one of ECSU’s strongest engines of enrollment growth. Aviation Science enrollment climbed from 442 students in fall 2025 to 579 students this fall, a 31% increase in just one year.
The increase continues the forward movement of a program that has become one of ECSU’s most visible areas of growth and an important pathway for preparing students for careers in the aviation industry.
But building a thriving university takes more than the strength of one academic program.
Beyond the runway, several academic programs posted double-digit enrollment gains this fall, with Social Work leading the university in percentage growth at 84%. Residency-Secondary Education and Special Education, General each grew 40%; History increased 33%; Health and Wellness Promotion and Accounting each increased 21%; Engineering Technology grew 16%; Special Education increased 13%; and Music and Criminal Justice each grew 12%.
The university’s rise is also showing up beyond U.S. News.
ECSU was recently recognized among the nation’s Top 10 public HBCUs by Forbes and ranked No. 5 among the Best HBCU Schools in America in Niche’s 2027 rankings—additional national recognition arriving as the university continues to ascend.
U.S. News notes that rankings can shift because of changes in an institution’s data, changes among peer institutions or adjustments to methodology. What is clear, however, is the bigger picture surrounding the rankings: more students, sustained enrollment growth, strong retention, expanding academic opportunities, new pathways into high-demand careers, increased student support, growing partnerships and continued investment in the university’s future.
“Ten years of growth does not happen by accident,” Hargrove said. “It reflects the commitment of our faculty and staff, the confidence of our students and families, the strength of our academic programs, and the vision we have for ECSU’s future. We are not simply growing larger—we are becoming a university with an even greater capacity to educate, innovate and contribute to the economic vitality of Northeastern North Carolina and beyond.”
The rankings put numbers beside ECSU’s national rise. The enrollment numbers reveal the momentum behind it.
For 10 straight years, ECSU has been climbing—one student, one class, one degree and one opportunity at a time.
