Henderson State University vs. ECU

Should I go to Henderson State University or East Central University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Henderson State University or ECU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Henderson State University vs. East Central University comparison
Henderson State University East Central University College 3 College 4
Henderson State University East Central University
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Overview

Henderson State University ECU
Location Arkadelphia, AR Ada, OK
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 2,519 3,376
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #928
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu ecok.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University ECU
Tuition (In State) $5,880 $6,001
Tuition (Out of State) $8,088 $15,361
Room & Board $9,558 $7,752
Avg Net Price $17,656 $10,221
Avg Grant Aid $9,580 $8,853
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 89%

Admission

Henderson State University ECU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,345 1,200
Admitted 1,657 841
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 70.1%
Enrolled % 24.9% 59.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 16/21 16/22
SAT Range 903/1073 960/1078
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Henderson State University ECU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University ECU
Graduation Rate 31% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $40,300
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $16,878
Median Loan Payment $201 $174

Diversity

Henderson State University ECU
% Men 40% 38%
% Women 60% 62%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 55%
% Black 24% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 14%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 10%
% International 1% 10%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Henderson State University ECU
% In-State 81% 88%
% Out-of-State 19% 11%

Campus

Henderson State University ECU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • East Central University is larger than than Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (3,376 students vs. 2,519 students)

Henderson State University vs. ECU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henderson State University or ECU?

  • East Central University is 2.1% more expensive to attend than Henderson State University for in-state tuition ($6,001.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 89.9% higher at ECU than Henderson State University ($15,361.00 vs. $8,088.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Central University than Henderson State University ($10,221 vs. $17,656)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Central University are 23.3% lower than costs at Henderson State University ($7,752 vs. $9,558)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Henderson State University than East Central University (90% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Henderson State University students is 8.2% larger than aid received East Central University ($9,580 vs. $8,853)

Henderson State University vs. ECU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Henderson State University or ECU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ECU or Henderson State University .

  • The average SAT score at Henderson State University (988) is 18 points higher than at ECU (970)
  • Incoming Henderson State University students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at ECU (21)
  • Accepted freshman ECU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • Henderson State University has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than ECU (70.1%)

Henderson State University vs. ECU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Henderson State University or ECU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ECU and Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at ECU is higher than Henderson State University (34% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from East Central University earn on average $1,900 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($40,300 vs. $38,400)
  • East Central University students graduate with a $2,622 lower median federal student loan debt than Henderson State University graduates. ($16,878 vs. $19,500)
  • ECU graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than Henderson State University graduates. ($174 vs. $201)
  • More Henderson State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/