East Central Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Decatur, Mississippi. It enrolls 1,520 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes32
Value77
Affordability70
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, East Central Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending East Central Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $5,240 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$5,240
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
6%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$4,160
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$6,260
Room & Board (on-campus)
$4,850
Room & Board (off-campus)
$6,140
Books & Supplies
$1,480
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,830
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,830
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,255
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$4,575
$30,001 – $48,000
$4,371
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,427
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,900
Over $110,000
$12,412
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,47110%percentile
$2,12225%percentile
$5,500Medianpercentile
$7,43975%percentile
$12,39790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $4,130
↓ $1,370
No Pell $5,500
—
Dependent students $4,009
↓ $1,491
Independent students $6,083
↑ $583
Female students $4,800
↓ $700
Male students $4,000
↓ $1,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,000, close to what completers borrow ($5,500) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
33% of full-time students who enrolled at East Central Community College graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
33%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered East Central Community College earn a median of $32,421 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$32,421
Earning > $25K
54%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$28,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$40,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$35,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,300, about 31% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
2.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 47% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
East Central Community College is home to 1,520 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,520
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
37%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 50.3%765
Black 31.8%483
Other 8.4%127
Hispanic 6.8%103
International 1.5%22
Asian 0.2%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at East Central Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: RemoteDecatur, Mississippi
Housing
Mostly residential650 beds on campus
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
East Central Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
32 distinct programs across
11 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at East Central Community College is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,483
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$10M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$53,137
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
73 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
73
100%
$53,137
Pros & Cons of East Central Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how East Central Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, East Central Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about East Central Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about East Central Community College.
Is East Central Community College hard to get into?
East Central Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at East Central Community College?
East Central Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does East Central Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at East Central Community College is $5,240 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is East Central Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $32,421 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,240 per year. That's roughly 6.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is East Central Community College known for?
East Central Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Vehicle Maintenance. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do East Central Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering East Central Community College are $32,421, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is East Central Community College accredited?
Yes. East Central Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend East Central Community College?
East Central Community College enrolls 1,520 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at East Central Community College?
East Central Community College graduates 33% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is East Central Community College a public or private college?
East Central Community College is a Public institution.
Where is East Central Community College located?
East Central Community College is located in Decatur, Mississippi.
What programs does East Central Community College offer?
East Central Community College offers 32 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Vehicle Maintenance.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at East Central Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at East Central Community College is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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