East Carolina University is a public (public education), coeducational (Mixed-sex education), engaged doctoral (Doctorate)/research university located in Greenville (Greenville, North Carolina), North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in eastern North Carolina and the third-largest university in North Carolina. With a Fall 2009 enrollment of 27,703 students, it is the fastest-growing campus in the University of North Carolina system for six consecutive years.

The North Carolina General Assembly founded ECU on March 8, 1907 as a teacher training school (Normal school) and selected Greenville as its seat on July 2, 1908 with the first classes beginning in 1909. While East Carolina has historical strengths in education, nursing, business, music, theater, and medicine, it offers over 100 Bachelor degree areas of study including mathematics, hospitality management (Hospitality management studies), engineering, construction management, computer science, exercise physiology, political science, social work,and environmental health.

East Carolinas name changed from East Carolina Teachers Training School (ECTTS) in 1907 to East Carolina Teachers College (ECTC), then East Carolina College (ECC), and finally, in 1967, to East Carolina University (ECU). The change in its name reflects the changed mission. Originally the school was established to train teachers for North Carolina, specifically the eastern part of the state. Today, ECU continues to serve eastern North Carolina in a larger capacity. The medical school (Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University) brings much needed medical care to the impoverished area. The Small Business Institute, through the College of Business (College of Business at East Carolina University), offers assistance and advice to small business owners.

East Carolina has grown from convert43acreha0 in 1907 to almost convert1600acreha0 today. The universities academic facilities are located on four properties: Main (East Carolina University Main Campus), Health Sciences (East Carolina University Health Sciences Campus), West Research facility (East Carolina University West Research Campus), and the Field Station for Coastal Studies (East Carolina University Field Station for Coastal Studies) in New Holland (Lake Mattamuskeet), North Carolina. The nine undergraduate colleges (East Carolina University#Colleges and schools), graduate school (East Carolina University Graduate School), and two professional schools are all located on these four properties. All of the non-health sciences majors are located on the main campus. The College of Nursing (College of Nursing at East Carolina University), College of Allied Health Sciences (College of Allied Health Sciences at East Carolina University), Brody School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine (East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine) are located on the health science campus. There are nine social sororities (Fraternities and sororities) ,16 social fraternities (Fraternities and sororities), four historically black sororities, five historically black fraternities, one Native American fraternity, and one Native American sorority. Along with Greek life, there are over 300 registered clubs on campus