Ada, Oklahoma Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Ada, Oklahoma: median public in-state tuition $8,332 (+46.2% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $47,782 (-19.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 90.4% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $18,350 (+35.9% vs U.S.) 2,539 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Ada serve students across Oklahoma with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 2,539 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $8,332. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Ada, Oklahoma and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Ada 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ada, Oklahoma | $8,332 | $5,936 | $18,350 | 27.7% | 2,539 |
| Oklahoma (state median) | $6,558 | $10,395 | $13,072 | 41.0% | 157,080 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Ada, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ada, Oklahoma | $47,782 | 90.4% | 60.6% | 12.8% | — | 63.6% | 0.38 |
| Oklahoma (state median) | $50,249 | 90.9% | 66.8% | 8.1% | — | 74.6% | 0.37 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ada, Oklahoma | $8,332 | $5,936 | $18,350 | 27.7% | 2,539 | $47,782 | 90.4% |
| Tulsa | $18,850 | $26,071 | $13,145 | 57.2% | 23,512 | $59,124 | 90.6% |
| Norman | $10,181 | $8,864 | $19,668 | 74.7% | 23,153 | $66,905 | 93.4% |
| Stillwater | $10,444 | $19,822 | $19,500 | 69.4% | 22,111 | $60,713 | 92.5% |
| Oklahoma City | $13,208 | $15,662 | $12,579 | 31.4% | 19,862 | $62,267 | 93.4% |
| Edmond | $18,622 | $20,758 | $18,702 | 49.3% | 12,055 | $53,611 | 92.3% |
| Midwest City | $5,144 | $10,518 | $12,504 | 21.1% | 5,037 | N/A | N/A |
| Tahlequah | $8,041 | $12,424 | $17,000 | 37.2% | 4,772 | $48,728 | 90.0% |
| Durant | $7,800 | $7,565 | $17,750 | 31.5% | 3,080 | $48,391 | 89.2% |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
Top college in Ada, 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, 27.7%, East Central University
East Central University
Top college in Ada, 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, 90.4%, East Central University
East Central University
Most selective college in Ada, 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, 58.1%, East Central University
East Central University
Top college in Ada, 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, $82,864, East Central University
East Central University
Top college in Ada, 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, $78,578, East Central University
East Central University
Top college in Ada, 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, $41,810, East Central University
East Central University
Top college in Ada, 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, $47,414, East Central University
East Central University
Top college in Ada, 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, $47,782, East Central University
East Central University
Top college in Ada, 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, $185,606, East Central University
East Central University
Most affordable college in Ada, 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, $8,722, East Central University
East Central University
Top college in Ada, 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, 60.6%, East Central University
East Central University
In-state tuition: Ada, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Ada, Oklahoma median in-state tuition is $8,332, +46.2% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Ada, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Ada, Oklahoma is $18,350 (+35.9% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $12,048.
Median earnings (10 years out): Ada, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Ada, Oklahoma center around $47,782 (-19.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Ada, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 90.4% at the median Ada, Oklahoma campus (-2.6 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
Ada, Oklahoma median public in-state tuition is $8,332, about +46.2% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +124.3%.
Median graduate debt is $18,350 (+35.9% above the U.S. median of $13,500). 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 Ada, Oklahoma are $47,782, about -19.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,401).
The median campus reports 90.4% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (-2.6 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 60.6% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 12.8% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 63.6% (U.S. 73.8%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include East Central University (90.4%)—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 Ada, Oklahoma is 27.7% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Ada?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Ada, Oklahoma with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Ada?
Median in-state tuition in Ada is $8,332 and median net price is $5,936. For Oklahoma overall, medians are $6,558 and $10,395; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Ada?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Ada is $47,782 vs $50,249 for Oklahoma and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Ada colleges?
Median completer debt in Ada is $18,350 vs $13,072 for Oklahoma and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Ada?
Top campuses on this page include East Central University (graduation) and East Central University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Ada?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Ada, Oklahoma, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, none report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment, and none report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Oklahoma college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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