Carl Albert State College
#7 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Oklahoma- Graduation Rate
- 42% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $34,117 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $14,607 C+
- Close to the national average
- Enrollment
- 1,308
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 13.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.4 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Oklahoma.
Every $1 spent returns $13.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $721,784.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 42% — 27% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.51% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $13.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Carl Albert State College Matters
Carl Albert State College is a public community college in Poteau, OK and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,308
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Social Sciences
Why students choose Carl Albert State College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,607 a year after grants and scholarships — 15% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $34,117 ten years after enrolling — 16% below the typical college, against $9,362 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 17% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.21 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With around 1,300 students, Carl Albert State College in Poteau, Oklahoma, is a fitting choice for those looking for a close-knit community and a practical education. Students often pursue degrees in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education. This variety allows individuals to find a path that resonates with their interests and career goals, making it easier to connect classroom learning with real-world applications.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $34,117 within ten years. This figure gives a sense of the financial return on their educational investment. For those who rely on financial aid, about 54% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating that the college is committed to helping lower-income students access education. While the graduation rate is 42%, the focus on practical skills may help many graduates find opportunities in their fields.
When it comes to finances, the net price after aid at Carl Albert is approximately $14,607, with a median debt of $9,362. This manageable debt level suggests that students can pursue their degrees without being overwhelmed by financial burdens. Generally, those who thrive here are motivated learners who appreciate a supportive environment and a direct path to employment in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Carl Albert State College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Carl Albert State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Poteau, Oklahoma, Carl Albert State College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 42%.
- Retention Rate
- 10%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 45%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,383
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 25:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.80
- First-Gen Students
- 52%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Carl Albert State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Carl Albert State College is $9,098, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,607. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,902 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,362 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,380
- Out-of-State
- $9,098
- Avg Net Price
- $14,607
- Median Debt
- $9,362
- Pell Grant Rate
- 54%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 14%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,902
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,399
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $16,156
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Carl Albert State College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Carl Albert State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Carl Albert State College report median earnings of $34,117, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,375
- 8 Years
- $32,780
- 10 Years
- $34,117
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 46%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (92)
- 25%
- 100% (92)
- 25%
- 100% (92)
- 25%
- 100% (92)
- 25%
How Carl Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Carl Albert State College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Carl Albert State College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,607/year ($58,428 total). Graduates earn $34,117 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $780,212 in total earnings — a net gain of $721,784 (13.4× your investment). The median debt is $9,362, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 42% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $58,428
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $780,212
- Net Return
- $721,784
- ROI Multiple
- 13.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,607
- Median Debt
- $9,362
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 42%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Carl Albert State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Carl Albert State College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.51%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 24.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $45,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.51%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 10.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 24.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $62,090
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Top Programs
The fields Carl Albert State College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 29% $62,657 early-career
- Business & Marketing 11% $24,225 early-career
- Humanities 8%
- Social Sciences 8%
- Education 6% $22,414 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 2%
- Communications 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Carl Albert State College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Carl Albert State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Poteau, Oklahoma, Carl Albert State College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 42%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Carl Albert State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Carl Albert State College is $9,098, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,607. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,902 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,362 in federal student loans.
Is Carl Albert State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Carl Albert State College report median earnings of $34,117, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Carl Albert State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Carl Albert State College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.51%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 24.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $45,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Carl Albert State College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Carl Albert State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.21, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Carl Albert State College.
- Hocking CollegeNelsonville, OH · Close peer32% grad $37,791 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Seminole State CollegeSeminole, OK · Close peer35% grad $35,390 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Texarkana CollegeTexarkana, TX · Close peer41% grad $34,647 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Copper Mountain Community CollegeJoshua Tree, CA · Close peer31% grad $33,281 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Herkimer County Community CollegeHerkimer, NY · Close peer31% grad $39,199 earnWhy: similar size · similar net price
- Lassen Community CollegeSusanville, CA · Close peer30% grad $35,994 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Carl Albert State College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Carl Albert State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.21, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note