Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) was named a Purple Heart University due to their commitment to members of the armed forces. ECSU becomes the second North Carolina university to receive this distinction.
In addition to its Purple Heart University designation, ECSU ranked fourth on the 2022 Best Colleges for Veterans- Regional Colleges South listing by U.S. News & World Report. It has also been recognized as a Top Veteran-Friendly School by U.S. Veterans Magazine.