East Central University
#7 Most Affordable Colleges in Oklahoma- Graduation Rate
- 34% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,962 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,683 B+
- 49% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 58% B
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 29.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $29.0 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Most Affordable Colleges in Oklahoma.
Every $1 spent returns $29.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $972,709.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 34% — 41% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $29.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why East Central University Matters
East Central University is a public university in Ada, OK and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,467
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose East Central University
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
Competitive — admits about 58% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 900–1120. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,683 a year after grants and scholarships — 49% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,962 ten years after enrolling — 10% above the typical college, against $17,671 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.54 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 2,467 students, East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, caters to those seeking a supportive learning environment with a focus on practical career paths. This is a great fit for students interested in fields like Business & Marketing, Psychology, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, and Education. The acceptance rate stands at 58%, which means we have a good chance of finding a place here if we apply.
Life after graduation shows that students can expect to earn around $44,962 a year ten years after finishing their degree. That number is important because it reflects the potential return on investment for our education. While the graduation rate is lower at 34%, those who do complete their degrees may find that their earning power helps them move up in their careers. Affordability is also a key factor; with a net price of $8,683 after aid, this school allows for a more manageable financial commitment.
When we look at the cost of attending East Central University, we see a median debt of $17,671, which is relatively low compared to many other institutions. This is particularly helpful for students who might be concerned about financial burdens after graduation. Those who thrive here are often those who appreciate a close-knit community and are motivated to pursue careers in practical fields, making the most of both the programs and the supportive atmosphere.
Rankings
- #7 Most Affordable Colleges in Oklahoma
- #10 Best Bachelor's Programs in Oklahoma
- #10 Best Master's Programs in Oklahoma
- #12 Best Computer Science Colleges in Oklahoma
- #12 Best Data Science Colleges in Oklahoma
- #13 Best Education Colleges in Oklahoma
- #14 Best Psychology Colleges in Oklahoma
- #15 Best Biology Colleges in Oklahoma
Can I Get In?
How selective East Central University 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 University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Ada, Oklahoma, East Central University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 58% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,049. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 58%
- Retention Rate
- 61%
- SAT Average
- 1049
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- SAT Range
- 900–1120
- ACT Range
- 17–24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,650
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.76
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
- Applicants
- 1,200
- Admitted
- 841
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 University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at East Central University is $17,842, 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 $8,683. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,151 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,671 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,032
- Out-of-State
- $17,842
- Avg Net Price
- $8,683
- Median Debt
- $17,671
- Pell Grant Rate
- 45%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 36%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,151
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,402
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,155
- Family Income $110K+
- $10,702
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 University — 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 University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of East Central University report median earnings of $44,962, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,677
- 8 Years
- $42,292
- 10 Years
- $44,962
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.39x
- Earning > $25K
- 63%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (142)
- 25%
- 100% (142)
- 25%
- 100% (142)
- 25%
- 100% (142)
- 25%
How East Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is East Central University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, East Central University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,683/year ($34,732 total). Graduates earn $44,962 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,007,441 in total earnings — a net gain of $972,709 (29.0× your investment). The median debt is $17,671, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 34% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $34,732
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,007,441
- Net Return
- $972,709
- ROI Multiple
- 29.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,683
- Median Debt
- $17,671
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 34%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,947,415
- Investment Income
- $115,251
Top Programs
The fields East Central University 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.
- Business & Marketing 18% $50,782 early-career
- Health Professions 11% $71,320 early-career
- Psychology 10% $26,097 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $68,105 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $33,335 early-career
- Education 5% $44,210 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 3% $27,463 early-career
- English & Literature 2% $37,783 early-career
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 University'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
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into East Central University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Ada, Oklahoma, East Central University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 58% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,049. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend East Central University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at East Central University is $17,842, 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 $8,683. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,151 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,671 in federal student loans.
Is East Central University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of East Central University report median earnings of $44,962, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is East Central University? 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 University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.54, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to East Central University.
- Indiana University-EastRichmond, IN · Close peer42% grad $47,156 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityDurant, OK · Close peer32% grad $45,079 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Louisiana State University-ShreveportShreveport, LA · Close peer35% grad $47,477 earn 51% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Northwestern Oklahoma State UniversityAlva, OK · Close peer33% grad $44,358 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Texas A&M University-TexarkanaTexarkana, TX · Close peer30% grad $45,515 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Hawaii at HiloHilo, HI · Close peer45% grad $47,856 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is East Central University? 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 University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.54, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note