Head-to-head comparison
Tulsa Community College vs University of Central Oklahoma: which has better ROI?
Option A Tulsa, OK
Tulsa Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,288
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,746
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Edmond, OK
University of Central Oklahoma
- Net price / year
- $18,309
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,351
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Central Oklahoma comes closer — median earnings $48,351 against a $73,236 total, vs $39,746 at Tulsa Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tulsa Community College | University of Central Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,288 | $18,309 |
| Total net cost | $12,576 | $73,236 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,746 | $48,351 |
| Median debt | $12,223 | $21,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$184,856 | -$73,416 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tulsa Community College or University of Central Oklahoma?
Tulsa Community College, at $6,288 a year after aid versus $18,309 — a gap of $12,021 a year, or $60,660 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Tulsa Community College or University of Central Oklahoma graduates earn more?
University of Central Oklahoma graduates report a median $48,351 ten years after entry, $8,605 more than the $39,746 at Tulsa Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Tulsa Community College or University of Central Oklahoma?
Tulsa Community College: its completers carry a median $12,223 in federal loans versus $21,000 at University of Central Oklahoma, a difference of $8,777. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
37% of students finish at University of Central Oklahoma, against 28% at Tulsa Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.