ECU vs. SHSU

Deciding between East Central University and Sam Houston State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

East Central University
Sam Houston State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECU Ada, OK
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Setting
  • ECU Remote Town
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ECU 3,377
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Type
  • ECU Public 4 Year
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECU #859
  • SHSU #794
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECU -
  • SHSU -
  • Status
  • ECU Non-profit
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECU
  • SHSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECU $8,032
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECU $17,842
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Room & Board
  • ECU $8,516
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • ECU $8,565
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECU $9,255
  • SHSU $10,669
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECU 91%
  • SHSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECU 2,148
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Admitted
  • ECU 1,249
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECU 58.1%
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • ECU 42.4%
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECU 1010
  • SHSU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECU 20
  • SHSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECU 3.31
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECU B+
  • SHSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECU Very Easy
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECU Low
  • SHSU
  • ACT Range
  • ECU 17/24
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • ECU 900/1120
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECU Test optional
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ECU
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECU 18:1
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECU
    • Human Services (14%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECU 34%
  • SHSU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECU $40,300
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECU 45%
  • SHSU 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECU $16,878
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECU $174
  • SHSU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECU 38%
  • SHSU 37%
  • % Women
  • ECU 62%
  • SHSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECU High
  • SHSU High
  • HBCU
  • ECU No
  • SHSU No
  • % White
  • ECU 55%
  • SHSU 53%
  • % Asian
  • ECU 0%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Black
  • ECU 3%
  • SHSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECU 5%
  • SHSU 20%
  • % Native American
  • ECU 14%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECU 0%
  • SHSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECU 10%
  • SHSU 3%
  • % International
  • ECU 10%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECU 2%
  • SHSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECU 81%
  • SHSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECU 12%
  • SHSU 1%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ECU Yes
  • SHSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ECU No
  • SHSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • ECU Yes
  • SHSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ECU Yes
  • SHSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ECU Yes
  • SHSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare East Central University in Ada, OK with Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sam Houston State University is larger than ECU based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 3,377 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • East Central University is located in Ada, OK (Remote Town setting); Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • East Central University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: East Central University 18:1; Sam Houston State University 19:1.

ECU vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or SHSU? 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 SHSU ($8,565 vs. $14,737).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Central University are 27.3% lower than at Sam Houston State University ($8,516 vs. $11,720).
  • Sam Houston State University is 14.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $1,196 more per year; $9,228.00 vs. $8,032.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.9% higher at SHSU than at East Central University (about $1,226 more per year; $19,068.00 vs. $17,842.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at East Central University than at Sam Houston State University (91% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 15.3% larger than aid received by East Central University students ($10,669 vs. $9,255).

ECU vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sam Houston State University (1030) is 20 points higher than at ECU (1010).
  • Incoming ECU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 20) as students at SHSU (20).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Central University 900/1120; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Central University 17/24; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Test optional; SHSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ECU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at SHSU (3.25).
  • SHSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.3%) than ECU (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 42.4% at ECU vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

ECU vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and SHSU? 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).

  • Sam Houston State University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than East Central University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than ECU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, East Central University graduates have a $4,622 lower median loan debt than SHSU graduates ($16,878 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHSU graduates ($174 vs. $222).
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (57% 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.