| ECPI University | |
| Established: | 1966 |
| President: | Mark Dreyfus |
| Students: | 10,000 |
| City: | Virginia Beach |
| State: | Virginia |
| Country: | United States |
| Mascot: | Ram |
| Website: | www.ecpi.edu |
| Administrative Staff: | 150 |
| Colors: | Blue & White |
ECPI University, or East Coast Polytechnic Institute, is a private for-profit university based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It provides undergraduate- and graduate-level education in an accelerated format. ECPI University has six colleges with thirteen campus locations in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, and online.[1] Campuses are located in Virginia Beach, Newport News, Manassas, Richmond, Roanoke, Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, Lake Mary, and San Antonio. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.[2]
ECPI University was founded in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1966 as Electronic Computer Programming Institute. Initially formed as an institution offering accelerated education in computer science and programming, ECPI University later expanded its offerings to include electronics engineering technology, health sciences, nursing, and culinary arts.[3]
In 2012, ECPI University was the subject of a U.S. Senate report by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions investigating the misuse of federal funds by for-profit education companies.[4] The report concluded that while ECPI's student withdrawal rates at its physical campuses were significantly lower than many other for-profit universities examined, its withdrawal rates for its smaller online programs, as well as its student-loan default rates, were troubling.
ECPI University was previously known as ECPI College of Technology, but it changed its name on June 1, 2011, and began offering master's degrees in the field of computer and information science.[5]
ECPI University offers diploma and degree programs in information technology, electronics engineering technology, health science, nursing, business, criminal justice, and culinary arts through its five colleges.[6]
Students take two courses per session from a year-round curriculum, and the university offers 30-month bachelor's degrees and 15-month associate degrees.[7]
ECPI University has been accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) since 1998 to award associate, baccalaureate, and master's degrees. The university received approval at the December 2010 SACSCOC annual meeting to advance to a Level III institution with the approval of the Master of Science in information systems program.
Additional regional and state licensure has been awarded based on location and program.[8]