Jenson Tunnel · Photo: Valis55 · CC BY-SA 3.0Arkansas Colleges of Health Education is 9.5 miles from Pocola
No college sits inside Pocola’s boundary, but Arkansas Colleges of Health Education’s campus in Fort Smith, with 826 students on campus, is 9.5 miles from the center of town, and Carl Albert State College is 17.4 miles away in Poteau. About 4% of Pocola’s residents are enrolled in college, below Oklahoma (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Pocola. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Pocola
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Pocola
One private college within 9.5 miles, and one public college within 10.6 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Northeastern State University, is 54 miles away.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Pocola’s median household income ($50,545) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.
Questions about college near Pocola
Is Pocola a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Pocola residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Oklahoma (6). The nearest campus, Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, is 9.5 miles away in Fort Smith.
What colleges are near Pocola?
Within 15 miles: Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (9.5 miles, 826 students on campus) and the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (10.6 miles, 4,482).
What is the closest community college to Pocola, and what does it cost?
Carl Albert State College in Poteau, 17.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,380 a year for Oklahoma residents; the federal net price, $14,607, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Northeastern State University cost if we live in Oklahoma?
Tuition and fees are $7,810 a year in-state and $17,290 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,598 (under $30,000 income) to $19,511 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Pocola. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →