Tulsa, Oklahoma Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Tulsa, Oklahoma shows: median public in-state tuition $20,940 (+279.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $54,146 (-0.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 87.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $12,223 (-9.0% vs U.S.) 23,512 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 14 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 23,512 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $20,940 (+279.9% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $54,146 (-0.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 87.7% (-0.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $24,322 (+144.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $12,223 (-9.0% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $11,012
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 56.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 86.3%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Tulsa, Oklahoma—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Oklahoma and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Tulsa vs Oklahoma & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, Oklahoma | $20,940 | $24,322 | $12,223 | 56.8% | 23,512 |
| Oklahoma (state median) | $6,285 | $10,956 | $15,936 | 40.1% | 157,080 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Tulsa, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, Oklahoma | $54,146 | 87.7% | 86.3% | 6.8% | — | 81.4% | 0.46 |
| Oklahoma (state median) | $45,930 | 88.8% | 66.3% | 8.5% | — | 73.5% | 0.41 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Oklahoma (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, Oklahoma | $20,940 | $24,322 | $12,223 | 56.8% | 23,512 | $54,146 | 87.7% |
| Stillwater | $10,234 | $15,648 | $20,500 | 68.2% | 22,111 | $57,413 | 90.8% |
| Oklahoma City | $12,676 | $16,450 | $14,250 | 44.2% | 19,862 | $54,655 | 90.2% |
| Durant | $7,530 | $8,039 | $17,000 | 31.5% | 3,080 | $45,079 | 88.4% |
| Lawton | $7,095 | $10,912 | $14,324 | 30.7% | 2,892 | $40,118 | 81.7% |
| Okmulgee | $6,187 | $10,999 | $11,334 | 42.4% | 2,339 | N/A | N/A |
| Shawnee | $22,585 | $8,089 | $24,801 | 52.4% | 1,623 | $48,434 | 92.3% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Tulsa, Oklahoma by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 72.3%, University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 56.8%, Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Top 10 colleges in Tulsa, Oklahoma by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 90.5%, University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 84.9%, Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Tulsa, Oklahoma (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 61.5%, University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 98.9%, Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Top 10 colleges in Tulsa, Oklahoma by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $74,770, University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $71,417, Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Top 10 colleges in Tulsa, Oklahoma by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $145,353, University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $84,649, Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Top 10 colleges in Tulsa, Oklahoma by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $54,779, University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,112, Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Top 10 colleges in Tulsa, Oklahoma by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $55,527, University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $45,092, Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Top 10 colleges in Tulsa, Oklahoma by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $61,408, University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,885, Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Top 10 colleges in Tulsa, Oklahoma by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $166,944, University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $101,180, Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Tulsa, Oklahoma (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $15,000, University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
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Rank 2, Net Price, $25,365, Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Top 10 colleges in Tulsa, Oklahoma by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 92.1%, University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 80.5%, Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
In-state tuition: Tulsa, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Tulsa, Oklahoma median in-state tuition is $20,940, +279.9% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Tulsa, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Tulsa, Oklahoma is $12,223 (-9.0% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $11,012.
Median earnings (10 years out): Tulsa, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Tulsa, Oklahoma center around $54,146 (-0.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Tulsa, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 87.7% at the median Tulsa, Oklahoma campus (-0.3 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Tulsa, Oklahoma median public in-state tuition is $20,940, about +279.9% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +468.1%.
Median graduate debt is $12,223 (-9.0% below the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Tulsa, Oklahoma are $54,146, about -0.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 87.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-0.3 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 86.3% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.8% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 81.4% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Tulsa (90.5%), Oral Roberts University (84.9%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Tulsa, Oklahoma is 56.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Tulsa?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 14 campuses in Tulsa, Oklahoma with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Tulsa?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Tulsa is $20,940 and median net price is $24,322. For Oklahoma overall, medians are $6,285 and $10,956; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Tulsa?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Tulsa is $54,146 vs $45,930 for Oklahoma and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Tulsa colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Tulsa is $12,223 vs $15,936 for Oklahoma and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Tulsa?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include University of Tulsa (graduation) and University of Tulsa (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Tulsa?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 14 campuses in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 3 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Other Protestant (1), Presbyterian Church (USA) (1), Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (1).
Sources & related
- Oklahoma college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON