Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Carl Albert State College

Can an associate's degree that costs $9,000 in debt and leads to $33,000 after four years be worth it? At Carl Albert State College, the answer depends heavily on what comes next.

The first-year earnings of $26,648 land squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, but slightly below Oklahoma's median for this program. More concerning is that this ranks in just the 40th percentile among Oklahoma's 23 schools offering general studies—meaning six out of ten comparable programs in the state produce better outcomes. Nearby Oklahoma City Community College graduates earn $34,626 after one year, nearly $8,000 more. However, the relatively modest debt load keeps this manageable: graduates owe just one-third of their first-year salary, which is reasonable for an associate's degree serving a population where half receive Pell grants.

The real question is whether this associate's serves as a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree or stands alone. The 24% earnings growth over four years suggests some graduates are advancing, but the small sample size (under 30) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year. For students planning to transfer to a four-year institution, the low debt provides flexibility. For those entering the workforce directly, the below-median state outcomes suggest exploring programs at Oklahoma City Community College or Tulsa Community College first.