BY: CATHLENA SPENCER
In Ada, we know that our community’s heartbeat is synchronized with the bells of East Central University. But today, that pulse is stronger than ever. Grow Ada is thrilled to celebrate a milestone that confirms what we see every day on the streets of our city: ECU is not just a regional treasure; it is a national leader in educational investment. According to the 2026 rankings from Research.com, East Central University has been crowned the No. 1 Best Value College in Oklahoma. Additionally, ECU secured the No. 4 spot for Most Affordable College in the state. For those of us focused on the economic vitality of Ada, these aren’t just statistics, they are an invitation to the next generation of leaders to call our city home.
Founded in 1909, ECU has spent over 117 years weaving itself into the fabric of Ada. You can feel that history in the very air of the campus. It’s in the way the historic brickwork catches the Oklahoma sunset and how the sprawling, mature trees provide a canopy for students walking to class. This isn’t just a place to get a degree. It’s a beautiful, vibrant ecosystem that enhances the quality of life for everyone in the Ada area. A thriving university is the ultimate economic engine. When students choose ECU, they aren’t just choosing a school, they are moving into our neighborhoods, supporting our local boutiques, and dining in our restaurants.
While some universities feel like anonymous cities, ECU remains a place where “community” isn’t a buzzword, it’s the curriculum. The university’s commitment to small class sizes is a major competitive advantage for our local workforce. In smaller settings, students engage in deep, meaningful dialogue. They don’t just memorize, they innovate. Faculty-student interaction ensures that graduates enter the Ada workforce with more than just head knowledge, they have the soft skills and critical thinking capabilities that our local businesses crave.
The growth we’re seeing at ECU is physical and tangible. The university has recently completed extensive renovations to its student housing, ensuring that Ada offers a modern, comfortable lifestyle for students. These upgrades make our city a more attractive destination for talent from across the region. Perhaps most exciting for the future of our local economy is the construction of the Dan Hayes STEM Center. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for innovation, preparing students for high-demand careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. For Grow Ada, this center represents a pipeline of highly skilled professionals ready to fuel our local industries and attract new tech-focused businesses to the region.
The rankings provided by Research.com aren’t based on a popularity contest. They are the result of a rigorous analysis of over 400 metrics using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the College Scorecard. By evaluating more than 1,700 institutions through a unique entropy method, the experts confirmed what we’ve always believed: ECU offers a world-class education at a price that keeps the American Dream within reach.
At Grow Ada, we know that the “return on investment” Research.com talks about doesn’t stop at graduation. It continues when those graduates decide to stay in Ada, start businesses, and raise families. ECU’s success is Ada’s success. Whether you are a prospective student, a parent, or a business owner looking for a community on the rise, East Central University is the gold standard for affordable excellence. Discover why Ada is the perfect place to learn and live. Visit www.ecok.edu to learn more about ECU, or head to www.growada.com to see how we’re building a brighter future together.
Written by
Daniel Castaneda
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