Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: median public in-state tuition $12,676 (+130.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $54,655 (+0.5% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 90.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $14,250 (+7.4% vs U.S.) 19,843 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 12 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 19,843 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $12,676 (+130.0% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $54,655 (+0.5% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 90.2% (+2.2 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $16,571 (+66.2% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $14,250 (+7.4% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 44.2%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 74.5%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Oklahoma City serve students across Oklahoma with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 12 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 19,843 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $12,676. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Oklahoma City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | $12,676 | $16,571 | $14,250 | 44.2% | 19,843 |
| Oklahoma (state median) | $6,285 | $10,956 | $15,936 | 40.0% | 157,061 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Oklahoma City, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | $54,655 | 90.2% | 74.5% | 6.2% | — | 79.1% | 0.38 |
| Oklahoma (state median) | $46,116 | 89.1% | 66.8% | 8.1% | — | 74.6% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | $12,676 | $16,571 | $14,250 | 44.2% | 19,843 | $54,655 | 90.2% |
| Tulsa | $20,940 | $24,322 | $12,223 | 56.8% | 23,512 | $54,146 | 87.7% |
| Norman | $9,797 | $15,300 | $20,654 | 75.3% | 23,153 | $63,126 | 91.4% |
| Stillwater | $10,234 | $15,648 | $20,500 | 68.2% | 22,111 | $57,413 | 90.8% |
| Edmond | $17,999 | $20,090 | $23,500 | 46.1% | 12,055 | $48,777 | 91.0% |
| Midwest City | $5,030 | $10,456 | $10,453 | 20.0% | 5,037 | N/A | N/A |
| Tahlequah | $7,810 | $12,710 | $17,367 | 35.4% | 4,772 | $45,379 | 87.7% |
| 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% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 colleges in Oklahoma City, 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, 64.9%, Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 44.2%, Mid-America Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
Top 3 colleges in Oklahoma City, 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, 91.4%, University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 90.2%, Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 82.2%, Mid-America Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
Top 2 most selective colleges in Oklahoma City, 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, 77.0%, Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 91.8%, Mid-America Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
Top 3 colleges in Oklahoma City, 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, $75,367, University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $72,980, Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $53,164, Mid-America Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
Top 3 colleges in Oklahoma City, 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, $85,736, Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $84,009, University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $75,041, Mid-America Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
Top 3 colleges in Oklahoma City, 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, $52,216, University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $42,312, Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,265, Mid-America Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
Top 3 colleges in Oklahoma City, 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, $57,099, University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $53,863, Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,045, Mid-America Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
Top 3 colleges in Oklahoma City, 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, $63,126, University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $54,655, Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,116, Mid-America Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
Top 2 colleges in Oklahoma City, 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, $138,892, Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $124,702, Mid-America Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Oklahoma City, 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, $16,692, Mid-America Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $22,857, Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
Top 2 colleges in Oklahoma City, 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, 83.9%, Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 65.1%, Mid-America Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
In-state tuition: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma median in-state tuition is $12,676, +130.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is $14,250 (+7.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Oklahoma City, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma center around $54,655 (+0.5% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 90.2% at the median Oklahoma City, Oklahoma campus (+2.2 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
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma median public in-state tuition is $12,676, about +130.0% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +243.9%.
Median graduate debt is $14,250 (+7.4% above the U.S. median of $13,271). 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 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma are $54,655, about +0.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 90.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+2.2 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 74.5% 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 6.2% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 79.1% (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 Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center (91.4%), Oklahoma City University (90.2%), Mid-America Christian University (82.2%)—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 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is 44.2% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Oklahoma City?
This city profile covers 12 campuses in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Oklahoma City?
Median in-state tuition in Oklahoma City is $12,676 and median net price is $16,571. For Oklahoma overall, medians are $6,285 and $10,956; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Oklahoma City?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Oklahoma City is $54,655 vs $46,116 for Oklahoma and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Oklahoma City colleges?
Median completer debt in Oklahoma City is $14,250 vs $15,936 for Oklahoma and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Oklahoma City?
Top campuses on this page include Oklahoma City University (graduation) and University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Oklahoma City?
Among 12 campuses in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 2 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Francis Tuttle Technology Center and Metro Technology Centers; 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: United Methodist (1), Church of God (1).
Sources & related
- Oklahoma college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON