Elizabeth City State vs Fayetteville State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the CIAA. Elizabeth City State runs $2,780 less per year out of state; Elizabeth City State graduates 13 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Elizabeth City State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Elizabeth City State lists $2,780 less per year in tuition and housing than Fayetteville State.
- You would be in-state: Elizabeth City State is $557 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Fayetteville State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Elizabeth City State graduates 13 percentage points more of its students than Fayetteville State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Elizabeth City State is $1,524 lower than at Fayetteville State.
Lean Fayetteville State if…
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Fayetteville State admits 82% of applicants.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Elizabeth City State | Fayetteville State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $3,412 — Elizabeth City State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $3,969 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $7,412 — Elizabeth City State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $7,969 |
| Room & board | $9,079 — Elizabeth City State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,302 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $12,491 — Elizabeth City State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $15,271 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $16,491 — Elizabeth City State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $19,271 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Elizabeth City State | Fayetteville State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 48% — Elizabeth City State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 35% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $40,026/yr | $40,144/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,463 — Elizabeth City State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $22,987 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 54% — Elizabeth City State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 57% |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Elizabeth City State | Fayetteville State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 64% | 82% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,165 | 6,847 |
| Where it is | Elizabeth City, NC | Fayetteville, NC |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Elizabeth City State | Fayetteville State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Erin Forbes | Kyrin Walker |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Elizabeth City State | Fayetteville State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Elizabeth City State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Fayetteville State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Elizabeth City State vs Fayetteville State: common questions
- Is Elizabeth City State or Fayetteville State cheaper?
- On published price, Elizabeth City State is cheaper — about $16,491 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $19,271 at Fayetteville State. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Elizabeth City State or Fayetteville State?
- Elizabeth City State, at 48% against 35% at Fayetteville State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Elizabeth City State and Fayetteville State offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Elizabeth City State and Fayetteville State?
- Both programs run a recruiting questionnaire, and that is the right first move — it is exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit it at any age. Fill out both, then follow with an email to each staff.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Elizabeth City State and Fayetteville State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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