Carl Albert State College vs. Western

Comparable Facts

Compare Carl Albert State College in Poteau, OK with Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, OK on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Carl Albert State College is larger than Western based on total student enrollment (1,851 students vs. 1,162 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carl Albert State College is located in Poteau, OK (Rural Fringe setting); Western Oklahoma State College is in Altus, OK (Rural Fringe setting).
• Carl Albert State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Western Oklahoma State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carl Albert State College 23:1; Western Oklahoma State College 20:1.

Carl Albert State College vs. Western Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carl Albert State College or Western? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Oklahoma State College than Carl Albert State College ($7,810 vs. $14,935).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carl Albert State College are 23.6% lower than at Western Oklahoma State College ($5,909 vs. $7,735).
• Western Oklahoma State College is 27.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carl Albert State College (about $1,206 more per year; $5,586.00 vs. $4,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at Western than at Carl Albert State College (about $856 more per year; $9,954.00 vs. $9,098.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carl Albert State College than at Western Oklahoma State College (94% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Oklahoma State College students is 20.2% larger than aid received by Carl Albert State College students ($7,621 vs. $6,341).

Carl Albert State College vs. Western Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carl Albert State College or Western? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Western and Carl Albert State College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carl Albert State College - Open admission; Western - Open admission.

Carl Albert State College vs. Western Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carl Albert State College and Western? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Western Oklahoma State College earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Carl Albert State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,900 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carl Albert State College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Western graduates ($6,000 vs. $8,500).
• Among borrowers, Carl Albert State College graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western graduates ($62 vs. $87).
• More Carl Albert State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 37%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.