Public Associate Fair 54/100

Carl Albert State College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Poteau, Oklahoma

About Carl Albert State College

Carl Albert State College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Poteau, Oklahoma. It enrolls 1,308 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
37%
Net Price
$14,607
Median Earnings (10yr)
$34,117
Enrollment
1,308
Student : Faculty
23:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Fair
54/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 24
Value 32
Affordability 55
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Carl Albert State College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Carl Albert State College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,607 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$14,607
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
54%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
14%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$4,380
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,098
Room & Board (on-campus)
$5,909
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,473
Books & Supplies
$1,700
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,447
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,886
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,617

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $13,902
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $13,399
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $16,156
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $20,618

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,322
10% percentile
$2,250
25% percentile
$9,362
Median percentile
$7,500
75% percentile
$12,150
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $6,500 ↓ $2,862
No Pell $5,516 ↓ $3,846
Dependent students $5,500 ↓ $3,862
Independent students $7,903 ↓ $1,459
Female students $6,872 ↓ $2,490
Male students $5,500 ↓ $3,862
Pell recipients: 17.2% (1,610 students)No Pell: 14.6% (1,366 students)Dependent students: 14.6% (1,363 students)Independent students: 20.9% (1,958 students)Female students: 18.2% (1,702 students)Male students: 14.6% (1,363 students)Overall Median$9,362
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($9,362), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

37% of full-time students who enrolled at Carl Albert State College graduate within six years, and 36% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
37%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
36%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Carl Albert State College earn a median of $34,117 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,117
Earning > $25K
56%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$30,000$31,000$32,000$33,500$34,5006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$27,300

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$38,800

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $11,500, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Declining: debt management worsening over time 6.8 pts across 6 years
64.7%1yr58.6%3yr62.5%5yr57.9%7yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 58% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Carl Albert State College is home to 1,308 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 52% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
1,308
Part-Time
38%
First-Generation
52%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 41.8% 547
Other 30.2% 395
Hispanic 10.6% 139
Black 1.8% 23
Asian 0.6% 8
International 0.2% 2
White: 41.8% (547 students)Other: 30.2% (395 students)Hispanic: 10.6% (139 students)Black: 1.8% (23 students)Asian: 0.6% (8 students)International: 0.2% (2 students)Total1,308

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Carl Albert State College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Town: Distant Poteau, Oklahoma
Housing
Partly residential 300 beds available
Adult Learners
24% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Carl Albert State College offers a varied set of programs: 19 distinct programs across 12 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

5 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program
1 Program
1 Program
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Carl Albert State College is 23:1, high (larger classes are common).

Student : Faculty
23:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,061
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$41,379
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

44 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Instructors 44 100% $41,379

Pros & Cons of Carl Albert State College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Carl Albert State College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Open admissions
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for: Based on the data, Carl Albert State College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Carl Albert State College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Carl Albert State College.

Is Carl Albert State College hard to get into?
Carl Albert State College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Carl Albert State College?
Carl Albert State College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Carl Albert State College cost?
The average net price after aid at Carl Albert State College is $14,607 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Carl Albert State College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,117 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,607 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Carl Albert State College known for?
Carl Albert State College is best known for its programs in Health Sciences, Liberal Arts, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Carl Albert State College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Carl Albert State College are $34,117, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Carl Albert State College accredited?
Yes. Carl Albert State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Carl Albert State College?
Carl Albert State College enrolls 1,308 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Carl Albert State College?
Carl Albert State College graduates 37% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Carl Albert State College a public or private college?
Carl Albert State College is a Public institution.
Where is Carl Albert State College located?
Carl Albert State College is located in Poteau, Oklahoma.
What programs does Carl Albert State College offer?
Carl Albert State College offers 19 distinct programs. The most popular include Health Sciences, Liberal Arts, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Carl Albert State College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carl Albert State College is 23:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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