East Central Community College
#5 Most Affordable Colleges in Mississippi- Graduation Rate
- 38% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $32,421 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $5,240 A
- 69% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,520
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 35.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $35.4 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Most Affordable Colleges in Mississippi.
Every $1 spent returns $35.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $720,202.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduate earnings fall 20% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 38% — 34% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.61% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $35.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why East Central Community College Matters
East Central Community College is a public community college in Decatur, MS and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
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
- 1,520
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Construction Trades
Why students choose East Central Community 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 $5,240 a year after grants and scholarships — 69% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $32,421 ten years after enrolling — 20% below the typical college, against $5,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 15% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.82 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
East Central Community College in Decatur, MS, is a solid choice for students looking for a supportive environment in which to pursue practical skills. With about 1,520 students enrolled, the college has a focus on programs in Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Business & Marketing, and Culinary & Personal Services. This diverse range of top programs makes it an appealing option for those interested in hands-on learning that can lead directly to employment.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn around $32,421 within ten years of completing their studies. This figure gives a good sense of what you might achieve after graduation, especially considering the affordable price tag of $5,240 after financial aid. With a median debt of just $5,500, many graduates find themselves in a manageable financial position as they enter the workforce. It's worth noting that 39% of the student body receives Pell Grants, highlighting the support available for those who need it.
When it comes to the practical considerations, East Central Community College stands out for its affordability and the potential for financial stability post-graduation. The cost of attendance is relatively low, which helps keep debt levels manageable. Students who thrive here typically appreciate a close-knit community and are looking for a pathway to practical careers without the burden of overwhelming student loans.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective East Central Community 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 Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Decatur, Mississippi, East Central Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
- Retention Rate
- 60%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 49%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $4,684
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.64
- First-Gen Students
- 37%
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 Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at East Central Community College is $6,260, 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 $5,240. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,575 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $5,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,160
- Out-of-State
- $6,260
- Avg Net Price
- $5,240
- Median Debt
- $5,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 39%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 6%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,575
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,371
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,427
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,412
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 Community 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 Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of East Central Community College report median earnings of $32,421, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $28,873
- 8 Years
- $31,157
- 10 Years
- $32,421
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.17x
- Earning > $25K
- 43%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (222)
- 31%
- 100% (222)
- 31%
- 100% (222)
- 31%
- 100% (222)
- 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 Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, East Central Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,240/year ($20,960 total). Graduates earn $32,421 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $741,162 in total earnings — a net gain of $720,202 (35.4× your investment). The median debt is $5,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $20,960
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $741,162
- Net Return
- $720,202
- ROI Multiple
- 35.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,240
- Median Debt
- $5,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 38%
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 Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
East Central Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.61%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 30.6% 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 8.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $41,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.61%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 30.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $56,520
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,425,600
- Investment Income
- $43,948
Top Programs
The fields East Central Community 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 52%
- Health Professions 16% $62,723 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 8%
- Construction Trades 7% $45,495 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 5% $15,995 early-career
- Precision Production 3% $30,854 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- 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 Community 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 Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Decatur, Mississippi, East Central Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend East Central Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at East Central Community College is $6,260, 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 $5,240. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,575 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $5,500 in federal student loans.
Is East Central Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of East Central Community College report median earnings of $32,421, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does East Central Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
East Central Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.61%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 30.6% 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 8.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $41,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is East Central Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at East Central Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to East Central Community College.
- Southwestern Community CollegeSylva, NC · Close peer53% grad $34,145 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Meridian Community CollegeMeridian, MS · Close peer39% grad $31,002 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Three Rivers CollegePoplar Bluff, MO · Close peer34% grad $32,442 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kennebec Valley Community CollegeFairfield, ME · Close peer44% grad $36,035 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Mississippi Delta Community CollegeMoorhead, MS · Close peer31% grad $28,421 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · same state
- Southwest Mississippi Community CollegeSummit, MS · Close peer48% grad $33,227 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is East Central Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at East Central Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note