East Central College
- Graduation Rate
- 43% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $36,916 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $13,128 B-
- 23% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,639
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 16.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $16.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $786,772.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 43% — 25% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why East Central College Matters
East Central College is a public community college in Union, MO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,639
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Precision Production, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose East Central College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $13,128 a year after grants and scholarships — 23% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,916 ten years after enrolling — 9% below the typical college, against $9,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 67% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.42 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With around 1,640 students, East Central College in Union, MO, caters to a diverse group looking for practical education in fields like Humanities, Health Professions, and Mechanic & Repair Tech. The focus here is on hands-on training and immediate career paths, making it a good fit for those eager to enter the workforce with relevant skills. This school emphasizes real-world applications, preparing students for various roles in education, healthcare, and technical fields.
Graduates from East Central College see an average earning of about $36,916 within ten years of completing their studies. That’s a solid figure for many first-time job seekers, especially considering the pathways available in high-demand sectors. The affordability factor plays a big role too; with a net price after aid of about $13,128, many students can manage their education costs without accumulating overwhelming debt.
On average, graduates leave with a median debt of around $9,500, which is quite manageable given the earning potential. The school attracts those who thrive in practical, community-focused environments, often including non-traditional students or those seeking a second chance at education. With a Pell Grant rate of 33%, there’s also support for students from lower-income backgrounds, making it accessible for many who are looking to improve their economic situation.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective East Central College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into East Central College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Union, Missouri, East Central College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 35%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,348
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.27
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend East Central College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at East Central College is $7,680, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,128. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,281 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,272
- Out-of-State
- $7,680
- Avg Net Price
- $13,128
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 33%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 8%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,281
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,895
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,271
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,560
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at East Central College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is East Central College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of East Central College report median earnings of $36,916, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,017
- 8 Years
- $34,643
- 10 Years
- $36,916
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 47%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (171)
- 31%
- 100% (171)
- 31%
- 100% (171)
- 31%
- 100% (171)
- 31%
How East Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is East Central College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, East Central College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,128/year ($52,512 total). Graduates earn $36,916 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $839,284 in total earnings — a net gain of $786,772 (16.0× your investment). The median debt is $9,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 43% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $52,512
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $839,284
- Net Return
- $786,772
- ROI Multiple
- 16.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,128
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 43%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does East Central College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
East Central College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.17%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.17%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 11.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $92,388
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,127,613
- Investment Income
- $73,556
Top Programs
The fields East Central College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 47%
- Health Professions 21% $63,102 early-career
- Precision Production 8%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5%
- Education 4%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $22,845 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Business & Marketing 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for East Central College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into East Central College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Union, Missouri, East Central College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend East Central College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at East Central College is $7,680, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,128. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,281 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
Is East Central College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of East Central College report median earnings of $36,916, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does East Central College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
East Central College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.17%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is East Central College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at East Central College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.42, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to East Central College.
- Mineral Area CollegePark Hills, MO · Close peer46% grad $35,352 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lassen Community CollegeSusanville, CA · Close peer30% grad $35,994 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwa, IA · Close peer40% grad $40,507 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Central Lakes College-BrainerdBrainerd, MN · Close peer51% grad $42,162 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Jamestown Community CollegeJamestown, NY · Close peer37% grad $38,242 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northeastern Oklahoma A&M CollegeMiami, OK · Close peer29% grad $38,337 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is East Central College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at East Central College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.42, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note