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East Central Community College

Decatur, Mississippi · Public community college

Diesel mechanic schoolsCosmetology schoolsLPN / LVN programsElectrician schoolsAuto mechanic schoolsWelding schoolsSurgical technologist programsConstruction trades programsHVAC schoolsCulinary & pastry schoolsCNC & machining programs
36%completion rate · Mississippi avg 60%
$5,500median debt of graduates
$28,873median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$32,421median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Accredited)
Address: 15738 Highway 15, Decatur, MS 39327 · Phone: (601) 635-2111 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.
Completion rate vs. benchmarks
East Central Communit… East Central Communit…: 36.1% 36.1% Mississippi average Mississippi average: 59.5% 59.5% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists$37,390$54,360$65,400
Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists$17,370$27,560$39,810
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$39,320$50,220$58,030
Electricians$38,200$60,860$63,740
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$28,650$37,820$55,000
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$36,800$51,100$63,440
Surgical technologists$38,800$49,810$59,590
Construction laborers$29,370$37,710$45,790
HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers$36,160$48,680$61,390
Chefs and head cooks$30,900$54,850$76,350
Machinists$34,570$55,550$63,330

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Mississippi (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 16 not reported not reported not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 1–2 years 15 $13,462 not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 1–2 years 14 not reported $28,212 not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 8 not reported $25,967 not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 6 not reported $25,194 not reported
Carpenters Certificate, 1–2 years 5 not reported not reported not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Associate degree 5 not reported $38,289 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 5 not reported not reported not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 1–2 years 4 not reported not reported not reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Certificate, 1–2 years 4 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Associate degree 3 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 3 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 2 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 1–2 years 1 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 1 not reported $25,967 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 1 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 1 not reported not reported not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

Visit the school's website ↗

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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

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