Great in Greenville GREENVILLE, NC — A TRUE COLLEGE TOWN

At East Carolina University, you will learn and live in a thriving, student-friendly city.

Get to know Greenville.

Our expansive parks and tree-lined residential neighborhoods merit the GREEN in Greenville.

Explore the Tar River and its tributaries by canoe, kayak or paddleboard.

The Greenville area is visited by migratory waterfowl in the fall in addition to the many coastal birds, inland hawks and a variety of song birds found year-round.

Swept by a coastal breeze, Greenville enjoys great weather all year long.

Bike, walk or run the extensive Greenville Greenway system that abounds with native plants and flowers.

This is the heart of Pirate Nation and game day in Greenville is an experience like no other. ECU fans eagerly anticipate football season. Pirate pride is on display everywhere in town.

The ECU Alumni Association hosts the Pirate Alumni Road Race, a 5K and a 1-mile fun run. This community fundraiser supports East Carolina Alumni Scholarships and the fund awards nearly $50,000 every year. Many of the scholarship recipients volunteer or run in the event.

Student organizations put ECU's motto, Servire (to serve), into practice by preparing breakfast at the local community center.

New construction and historic landmarks combine to create a charming southern atmosphere that will make you feel right at home.

The picturesque neighborhoods surrounding campus are filled with many examples of historic architecture.

Greenville is the perfect destination with southern weather, great quality of life in a less densely populated area, and proximity to the beach. With Americans trending to move to smaller cities, Greenville ranked #1 in an index of top 20 inbound cities.

See this 2021 article on Greenville as a destination city.

Entertainment abounds from PirateFest, Homecoming, and Freeboot Fridays, to the Watermelon Festival, First Friday ArtWalk and Barefoot on the Mall.

Join the fun at "Sundays in the Park" or at one of the many festivals, street parties and parades.

Greenville is a vibrant city filled with art and diverse cultural opportunities.

From symphonies and opera to rock or reggae, a wide range of live music is waiting to be enjoyed in venues on-campus and all across town.

Eastern North Carolina is world-famous for its barbecue and Greenville is in the heart of the pulled pork empire.

Enjoy authentic eastern NC barbecue from some of the top pitmasters in the country in a variety of restaurants.

A profusion of shopping and dining options are in nearby business districts.

Greenville's Uptown district hosts numerous restaurants and cafes serving a diverse fare for every budget. Here you will also find many locally owned shops and boutiques offering one-of-a-kind items — all within walking distance of ECU.

At the Uptown Umbrella Farmer’s Market you’ll find fresh produce, meats, and baked goods among handmade crafts, jewelry, antiques, and natural personal care products.

You’ll also find your favorite national retailers and franchise restaurants in the Greenville area.

With the largest student transit system in North Carolina, ECU provides an easy way for you to get around Greenville to explore all that this great college town has to offer.

Cultural activities, festivals, fishing, golf, food and fun are all found here. Vast opportunities abound in this collegiate community.

Greenville is a college town that gets straight A’s for great lifestyle beyond ECU's spirited campus.

Learn more about ECU.

Discover more about Greenville.