Important Financial Information for Incoming Pirates

Key Financial Information for ECU Student and Families

College is a valuable investment in your future. See the following to learn more about ways you can help manage your educational expenses, such as tuition, books and supplies, and room and board.

For many ECU students, financial aid helps make their education possible. The Office of Student Financial Aid works with every ECU student to keep their college experience affordable. The staff is available to answer any questions you may have.

Entering Freshman: You are considered an entering freshman if you are a recent high school graduate and have not previously attended ECU or another regionally accredited institution.

Financial Aid Eligibility: As an entering freshman you are eligible to receive scholarships, grants, loans and work-study. Financial aid eligibility is based on the completion of the FAFSA application.

Visit Federal Student Aid to access the free application.

Be sure to include ECU’s Federal School Code (002923) in the school information section of the FAFSA.

Estimated Cost of Attendance

ECU updates tuition and fees every June, so the most current numbers for the 2026–2027 school year will be posted online.

Visit Student Financial Aid to check the latest costs.

If you’re not sure how your personal costs compare, the Financial Aid Office can help you break it down!

Accepting Your Financial Aid Offer

Step 1: Check Your Status

• Log into PiratePort.
• Click on Financial Aid Self-Service.
• Look for the following:
  • Any holds
  • Any missing requirements

Fix anything listed here so your aid isn’t delayed.

Step 2:  Review and Accept Your Award

• Log into PiratePort.
• Go to Financial Aid Self-Service.
• Click Award Offer.

What to know:

• Grants and scholarships are automatically accepted.
• Loans and work-study require action:
  • Click Take Action.
  • Choose accept/decline.
  • Hit Submit.
• First-time loan borrowers must complete:
  • Entrance Counseling
  • Master Promissory Note (MPN) at Federal Student Aid

Your loans won’t pay out until these are complete.

Step 3:  Complete Title IV Authorization

This allows your aid to be used for charges on your account.

• Log into PiratePort.
• Go to Financial Aid Self-Service.
• Click Resources.
• Find the Title IV Authorization link.

Step 4: Report Any Extra Aid

Got scholarships or other funding? Let ECU know.  Examples:

• Outside scholarships
• VA benefits
• Tuition waivers
• RA benefits

Fill out the Additional Aid Form for the correct school year. Send scholarship checks to the ECU Cashier’s Office.

Step 5: Check and Pay Your Bill (eBill) – Stay on top of your balance.

• Log into PiratePort.
• Click Tuition & Payments.
• Go to My Account → Account Activity.
• Select your term to see your balance.

Review and submit any needed authorizations.  All fall 2026 bills are due on August 4, 2026, by 5 p.m.

Step 6: Set Up Your Refund Method – If you get extra aid, this is how you’ll receive it.

• Log into PiratePort.
• Go to Tuition & Payments.
• Click the Refunds tab.
• Choose your eRefund (TouchNet) option.

Step 7: Complete Your Loan Process

• Go to Federal Student Aid and log in.
• Complete the Entrance Counseling section.
• Sign the Master Promissory Note (MPN).

Important: Loan Cancellation

You have the right to cancel all or part of your loan. To cancel, send a written request (which can be submitted via your ECU email account) to the Financial Aid Office with the following:

• Loan type
• Amount to cancel
• Date
• Your signature

If you get stuck at any step, the Financial Aid Office is ready to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out!

Private Alternative Student Loans

Sometimes, even with federal and state aid, you might need extra money for school. Private Alternative Student Loans are loans from banks or other lenders outside the federal government.

Important: East Carolina University does not recommend specific private loans or lenders, but you can explore options if needed.

What Are Private Alternative Loans?

• Non-federal loans from banks or private lenders.
• You apply directly to the lender.
• Interest rates and loan terms vary by lender.
• Approval depends on your (or cosigner’s) credit.

Private Education Loan Self-Certification

• Federal law requires lenders to get a self-certification form signed before giving you a private loan.
• ECU can provide this form if you are admitted or enrolled.
• This form confirms that you understand your loan terms and responsibilities.
• This form helps you compare your private loan to other financial aid.

Things To Know Before You Apply

1. Check free or low-cost aid first.
   1. Federal grants, loans and work-study (Title IV aid) are usually cheaper.
   2. Apply by submitting the FAFSA or call 1-800-4-FED-AID.
2. Private loans can reduce eligibility for federal/state aid.
3. Talk to the Financial Aid Office at ECU.
   1. Financial Aid can help verify financial info for your lender.
   2. Financial Aid can help you compare options before borrowing.

Frequently Used Private Loan Lenders

Quick Tips Before Borrowing:

• Check free or low-cost aid first (FAFSA, federal grants, work-study).
• Private loans can reduce your federal/state aid. Borrow wisely.
• Interest rates and terms vary. Shop around.
• Approval depends on credit. You may need a cosigner.
• Talk to ECU’s Financial Aid Office. They can help verify info and explore all options.

Direct Loans

The Direct Loan Program is a low-interest student loan program from the U.S. Department of Education. It helps students (and sometimes parents) pay for college.

Types of Direct Loans:

• Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
• Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
• Direct Parent PLUS Loan

Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan

• For undergraduate students only
• Based on financial need
• Big Benefit: The government pays your interest while you’re in school (at least half time).

Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

• For undergraduate, graduate and professional students
• Not based on financial need
• Important: Interest starts building right away. You can pay interest while in school (recommended) or let it build up (it will be added to your loan later).

Total Loan Limits (All Years Combined)

Dependent Students

• Max total: $31,000
• Subsidized max: $23,000

Independent Students

• Max total: $57,500
• Subsidized max: $23,000

Parent Plus Loans

• A federal loan in the parent’s name up to $20,000/year
• Additional steps and application are needed.
• Contact the Financial Aid Office if you’d like to explore this option.

Key Things To Remember:

• You must be enrolled at least half time.
• Subsidized loans = better deal (no interest while in school).
• Unsubsidized loans = interest starts immediately.
• Borrow only what you really need.

ECU Student Aid

ECU Financial Wellness Services

ECU’s Financial Wellness Hub offers free financial coaching on topics such as budgeting, credit scores, student loan repayment and more. Students are encouraged to create an estimated budget for the semester that includes recurring discretionary spending beyond the charges on their bill and ideally reduce loan borrowing if possible. Appointments can be scheduled in person or virtually on the Financial Wellness website.

Scholarships

Scholarships are gifts of money that do not require repayment. Scholarships usually recognize special achievements in academics, talent and leadership. Some scholarships also require that students demonstrate financial need.

ECU Scholarships

ECU offers a variety of scholarship opportunities to incoming freshmen, transfer students, and currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. Scholarships recognize special achievements in academics, talent and leadership.

The scholarship portal, ECUAWard, can be access via PiratePort or directly on the ECUAward website. The General Scholarship application goes live each year on August 1. Each opportunity has an individual deadline, many of which will be January 15.

Please see the directions on the portal and descriptions of each opportunity for more information. Questions can be directed to scholarships@ecu.edu.

Visit the University Scholarships website for more information.

College Foundation of North Carolina

The College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) is a free service provided to students and families who are residents of North Carolina that promotes access to higher education and provides tools to assist in education and career planning, applying and paying for college, and scholarship opportunities.

Online: College for North Carolina website

Fastweb

Fastweb is a free scholarship resource that matches its members to relevant scholarship opportunities.

Online: Fastweb website

Tuition Payment Plans Information

Pay Over Time — Interest Free!

ECU offers interest-free payment plans each fall and spring semester to help you spread out tuition costs instead of paying all at once.

5-Payment Plan

• Available earlier in the billing cycle
• Payments spread out over five installments
• Fall: July → November
• Spring: November → April

4-Payment Plan

• Opens after the five-payment plan closes
• Shorter plan with four installments
• Available closer to the start of the semester

Cost to Enroll in Payment Plans

• $20 enrollment fee per semester
• First payment is due when you sign up
• Plans are interest free

FERPA Information for Families

Now that your student is enrolled at ECU, their records are confidential under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, commonly called FERPA. To speak with ECU about your student’s financial records, parents or guardians must be listed on their student’s FERPA permission form.

• Students access FERPA permissions form via PiratePort
• Families access FERPA permissions form via the ECU Parent and Family Portal
• Additional information and instructions via the Registrar’s Office

All billing information is sent to your student’s ECU email. Parents and guardians can receive billing statements and make online payments on behalf of their student by becoming an Authorized User. Students add family members as Authorized Users on their PiratePort.