ECU vs. Messenger College

Comparable Facts

Compare East Central University in Ada, OK with Messenger College in Bedford, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Central University is larger than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (3,377 students vs. 24 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Central University is located in Ada, OK (Remote Town setting); Messenger College is in Bedford, TX (Small City setting).
• East Central University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Messenger College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Central University 18:1; Messenger College 8:1.

ECU vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or Messenger College? 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 Messenger College ($8,565 vs. $25,941).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Central University are 36% lower than at Messenger College ($8,516 vs. $13,305).
• Messenger College is 44.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $3,588 more per year; $11,620.00 vs. $8,032.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.5% higher at ECU than at Messenger College (about $6,222 more per year; $17,842.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at East Central University than at Messenger College (91% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Central University students is 134.9% larger than aid received by Messenger College students ($9,255 vs. $3,940).

ECU vs. Messenger College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU or Messenger College? 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 Messenger College and ECU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Central University 900/1120.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Central University 17/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Test optional; Messenger College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Messenger College Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman ECU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Messenger College (2.9).
• ECU has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Messenger College (37.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 42.4% at ECU vs. 66.7% at Messenger College.

ECU vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and Messenger College? 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).

• East Central University's six-year graduation rate (34%) is higher than Messenger College's (10%).
• Graduates from East Central University earn a median of about $16,300 more per year than Messenger College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,300 vs. $24,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More ECU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 40%)

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.