At East Carolina University, a public institution in Greenville, NC, 43% of the 27,000 students are studying STEM or health care. With a medical school, a dental school, and opportunities for advanced degrees in nursing and public health, this is easy to see. In fact, US News and World Report has rated Eastern Carolina's Brody School of Medicine among the top medical schools in the country for diversity, primary care education, percentage of graduates practicing in primary care, and percentage of graduates practicing in health professional shortage areas. How cool is that?

Among the 21,000 undergraduates, nursing is the major with the highest enrollment, with biology coming in third. Business and communications are also very popular majors at ECU.
School spirit is very big here, with lots of fan support for football and basketball. My awesome tour guide told me that advisers are very accessible, she loves her professors, and career services has been enormously helpful, even making appearances in her classes. The campus is really quite lovely and there is a relatively new student center which is beautiful. And, fun fact: Sandra Bullock attended ECU and comes back to campus to talk to the theater students!

The 4-year and 6-year graduation rates are a concern, at 45% and 65% respectively. But with a 92% acceptance rate and more than a third of the population first-generation college students, I applaud ECU for giving young people an opportunity for a great education.

Consistently recognized as a top school for social mobility as well as military-friendly and best college for veterans, there's a lot to love here!