ECU vs. Black Hills State University

Comparable Facts

Compare East Central University in Ada, OK with Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

East Central University is larger than Black Hills State University based on total student enrollment (3,377 students vs. 3,346 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Central University is located in Ada, OK (Remote Town setting); Black Hills State University is in Spearfish, SD (Remote Town setting).
• East Central University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Black Hills State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Central University 18:1; Black Hills State University 17:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Central University are 30% lower than at Black Hills State University ($8,516 vs. $12,160).
• Out-of-state tuition is 50.4% higher at ECU than at Black Hills State University (about $5,976 more per year; $17,842 vs. $11,866).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at East Central University than at Black Hills State University (91% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Central University students is 52.5% larger than aid received by Black Hills State University students ($9,255 vs. $6,070).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Black Hills State University than at ECU (21 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both ECU and Black Hills State University.
• Enrolled first-year students at ECU average a 3.31 high school GPA, 0.09 higher than at Black Hills State University (3.22).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 42.4% at ECU vs. 30.1% at Black Hills State University.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Central University graduates have a $8,600 lower median loan debt than Black Hills State University graduates ($16,878 vs. $25,478).
• Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $89 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Black Hills State University graduates ($174 vs. $263).
• More Black Hills State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation (62% vs. 45%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.