Tahlequah, Oklahoma Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Tahlequah, Oklahoma: median public in-state tuition $7,810 (+41.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $45,379 (-16.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 87.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $17,367 (+30.9% vs U.S.) 4,772 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 4,772 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $7,810 (+41.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $45,379 (-16.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 87.7% (-0.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $12,710 (+27.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $17,367 (+30.9% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 35.4%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 60.5%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Tahlequah serve students across Oklahoma with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 4,772 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $7,810. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Tahlequah, Oklahoma and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Tahlequah 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahlequah, Oklahoma | $7,810 | $12,710 | $17,367 | 35.4% | 4,772 |
| 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: Tahlequah, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahlequah, Oklahoma | $45,379 | 87.7% | 60.5% | 12.6% | — | 66.0% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahlequah, Oklahoma | $7,810 | $12,710 | $17,367 | 35.4% | 4,772 | $45,379 | 87.7% |
| 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% |
| Oklahoma City | $12,676 | $16,571 | $14,250 | 44.2% | 19,843 | $54,655 | 90.2% |
| 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 |
| 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 college in Tahlequah, 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, 35.4%, Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
Top college in Tahlequah, 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, 87.7%, Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
Most selective college in Tahlequah, 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, 99.6%, Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
Top college in Tahlequah, 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, $80,792, Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
Top college in Tahlequah, 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, $96,702, Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
Top college in Tahlequah, 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, $41,207, Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
Top college in Tahlequah, 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, $44,103, Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
Top college in Tahlequah, 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, $45,379, Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
Top college in Tahlequah, 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, $154,535, Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
Most affordable college in Tahlequah, 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, $12,710, Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
Top college in Tahlequah, 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, 60.5%, Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
In-state tuition: Tahlequah, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Tahlequah, Oklahoma median in-state tuition is $7,810, +41.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Tahlequah, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma is $17,367 (+30.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Tahlequah, Oklahoma vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Tahlequah, Oklahoma center around $45,379 (-16.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Tahlequah, 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 Tahlequah, 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
Tahlequah, Oklahoma median public in-state tuition is $7,810, about +41.7% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +111.9%.
Median graduate debt is $17,367 (+30.9% 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 Tahlequah, Oklahoma are $45,379, about -16.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
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 88.0% (-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 60.5% 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 12.6% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 66.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Northeastern State University (87.7%)—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 Tahlequah, Oklahoma is 35.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Tahlequah?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Tahlequah, Oklahoma with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Tahlequah?
Median in-state tuition in Tahlequah is $7,810 and median net price is $12,710. For Oklahoma overall, medians are $6,285 and $10,956; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Tahlequah?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Tahlequah is $45,379 vs $46,116 for Oklahoma and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Tahlequah colleges?
Median completer debt in Tahlequah is $17,367 vs $15,936 for Oklahoma and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Tahlequah?
Top campuses on this page include Northeastern State University (graduation) and Northeastern State University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Tahlequah?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Oklahoma college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON