Head-to-head comparison
Western Oklahoma State College vs Clary Sage College: which has better ROI?
Option A Altus, OK
Western Oklahoma State College
- Net price / year
- $7,267
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,248
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Tulsa, OK
Clary Sage College
- Net price / year
- $23,280
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,954
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Western Oklahoma State College comes closer — median earnings $38,248 against a $14,534 total, vs $28,954 at Clary Sage College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Western Oklahoma State College | Clary Sage College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,267 | $23,280 |
| Total net cost | $14,534 | $93,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,248 | $28,954 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $8,898 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$216,774 | -$481,240 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Western Oklahoma State College or Clary Sage College?
Western Oklahoma State College, at $7,267 a year after aid versus $23,280 — a gap of $16,013 a year, or $78,586 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 Western Oklahoma State College or Clary Sage College graduates earn more?
Western Oklahoma State College graduates report a median $38,248 ten years after entry, $9,294 more than the $28,954 at Clary Sage 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, Western Oklahoma State College or Clary Sage College?
Clary Sage College: its completers carry a median $8,898 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Western Oklahoma State College, a difference of $602. 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?
80% of students finish at Clary Sage College, against 31% at Western Oklahoma State 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.