ECU vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

Compare East Central University in Ada, OK with California State University San Marcos in San Marcos, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University San Marcos is larger than ECU based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 3,377 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Central University is located in Ada, OK (Remote Town setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• East Central University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Central University 18:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

ECU vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or California State University-San Marcos? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Central University than California State University-San Marcos ($8,565 vs. $10,241).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Central University are 39.8% lower than at California State University San Marcos ($8,516 vs. $14,152).
• California State University San Marcos is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $50 more per year; $8,082.00 vs. $8,032.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.9% higher at California State University-San Marcos than at East Central University (about $2,840 more per year; $20,682.00 vs. $17,842.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at East Central University than at California State University San Marcos (91% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University San Marcos students is 20.2% larger than aid received by East Central University students ($11,123 vs. $9,255).

ECU vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU or California State University-San Marcos? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between California State University-San Marcos and ECU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University San Marcos (1040) is 30 points higher than at ECU (1010).
• Incoming ECU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 19 at California State University-San Marcos).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Central University 900/1120; California State University San Marcos 950/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Central University 17/24; California State University San Marcos 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Test optional; California State University-San Marcos - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman California State University-San Marcos students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.32) than students at ECU (3.31).
• California State University-San Marcos has a higher acceptance rate (95.1%) than ECU (58.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 42.4% at ECU vs. 14% at California State University-San Marcos.

ECU vs. California State University-San Marcos Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and California State University-San Marcos? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California State University San Marcos's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than East Central University's (34%).
• Graduates from California State University San Marcos earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than ECU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,100 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Central University graduates have a $1,117 lower median loan debt than California State University-San Marcos graduates ($16,878 vs. $17,995).
• Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State University-San Marcos graduates ($174 vs. $186).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.