Head-to-head comparison
University of Central Oklahoma vs Carl Albert State College: which has better ROI?
Option A Edmond, OK
University of Central Oklahoma
- Net price / year
- $18,309
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,351
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Poteau, OK
Carl Albert State College
- Net price / year
- $14,607
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,117
- 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 $34,117 at Carl Albert State College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Central Oklahoma | Carl Albert State College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,309 | $14,607 |
| Total net cost | $73,236 | $29,214 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,351 | $34,117 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $9,362 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$73,416 | -$314,074 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Central Oklahoma or Carl Albert State College?
Carl Albert State College, at $14,607 a year after aid versus $18,309 — a gap of $3,702 a year, or $44,022 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 University of Central Oklahoma or Carl Albert State College graduates earn more?
University of Central Oklahoma graduates report a median $48,351 ten years after entry, $14,234 more than the $34,117 at Carl Albert State 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, University of Central Oklahoma or Carl Albert State College?
Carl Albert State College: its completers carry a median $9,362 in federal loans versus $21,000 at University of Central Oklahoma, a difference of $11,638. 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?
43% of students finish at Carl Albert State College, against 37% at University of Central Oklahoma. 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.