Best Public Colleges in Oklahoma 2024

Badge for BEST IN OKLAHOMA PUBLIC COLLEGES

Updated: Oct 26, 2023

Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in Oklahoma provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.

University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
University of Central Oklahoma
Langston University
Northeastern State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Cameron University
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
East Central University
Rogers State University

Northeastern State University 99%
Southwestern Oklahoma State University 77%
Southeastern Oklahoma State University 74%
University of Oklahoma 73%
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater 71%
East Central University 70%
University of Central Oklahoma 70%
Northwestern Oklahoma State University 56%
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma 56%

Southeastern Oklahoma State University 22 to 1
Langston University 20 to 1
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater 18 to 1
Southwestern Oklahoma State University 18 to 1
Cameron University 17 to 1
East Central University 17 to 1
Oklahoma Panhandle State University 17 to 1
Northeastern State University 17 to 1
Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City 17 to 1
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology 17 to 1

University of Central Oklahoma $7,026
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma $6,630
Southwestern Oklahoma State University $6,585
Southeastern Oklahoma State University $6,420
Northeastern State University $6,285
East Central University $6,001
Northwestern Oklahoma State University $5,448
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater $5,417
Cameron University $5,025
University of Oklahoma $4,920

University of Oklahoma $8,034
University of Central Oklahoma $7,356
Southwestern Oklahoma State University $6,516
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater $5,611
Oklahoma Panhandle State University $5,520
Northwestern Oklahoma State University $4,928
Northeastern State University $4,802
Southeastern Oklahoma State University $4,734
East Central University $4,555
Rogers State University $4,316

Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Rogers State University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Cameron University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
East Central University
Langston University

Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City
Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Rogers State University
East Central University
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Cameron University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma 56%
Northwestern Oklahoma State University 56%
University of Central Oklahoma 70%
East Central University 70%
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater 71%
University of Oklahoma 73%
Southeastern Oklahoma State University 74%
Southwestern Oklahoma State University 77%
Northeastern State University 99%

Rogers State University 16 to 1
University of Central Oklahoma 16 to 1
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma 16 to 1
Northwestern Oklahoma State University 16 to 1
University of Oklahoma 16 to 1
Cameron University 17 to 1
East Central University 17 to 1
Oklahoma Panhandle State University 17 to 1
Northeastern State University 17 to 1
Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City 17 to 1

Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City $3,119
Oklahoma Panhandle State University $3,840
Langston University $4,429
Rogers State University $4,536
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology $4,574
University of Oklahoma $4,920
Cameron University $5,025
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater $5,417
Northwestern Oklahoma State University $5,448
East Central University $6,001

Langston University $3,422
Cameron University $3,762
Rogers State University $4,316
East Central University $4,555
Southeastern Oklahoma State University $4,734
Northeastern State University $4,802
Northwestern Oklahoma State University $4,928
Oklahoma Panhandle State University $5,520
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater $5,611
Southwestern Oklahoma State University $6,516

Table of Contents

Colleges and Universities in Oklahoma

Less than half of the schools in Oklahoma are private schools. However, students who attend one these schools can expect a more intimate college experience, as each has a student population smaller than 4,000 students. The largest private school, the University of Tulsa, offers degrees in fields like education, criminal justice, and literature, with tuition fees around $41,000. The public schools tend to be more cost-friendly, with tuition ranging from $4,000 to $9,000 per year.

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The University of Oklahoma, the state’s largest public school, costs about $9,000 and serves over 24,000 students. Here, students can partake in competitive on-campus programs in fields like communications and social work, or pursue one of the 30 graduate degrees and certificates online. Oklahoma is also home to several religiously affiliated schools, like Oral Roberts University and Bacone College. Students hoping to pursue a career as a physician, physician’s assistant, or dentist may also want to consider earning their degree here as the state offers several loan forgiveness programs to those who qualify.

The state of Oklahoma is serious about its food - so serious they even declared an official state meal, which consists of fried okra, cornbread, barbecue pork, squash, biscuits, sausage and gravy, grits, corn, strawberries, chicken fried steak, black-eyed peas, and pecan pie. Those hoping to feed both their bellies and their minds can attend one of Oklahoma’s more than 40 colleges and universities.

To learn more about earning your degree in Oklahoma, check out some of the state’s top programs.

What are Oklahoma’s Colleges & Universities?

Oklahoma’s Best Overall

What is the difference between public and private colleges?

Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.

Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.

This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 15 public universities in Oklahoma. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in Oklahoma, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.

How do we determine Oklahoma's best public colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Best Public Colleges in Oklahoma 2023

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Oklahoma’s Best Public College in Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

Check out our directory of public colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top public colleges in every state.

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Best Public Colleges in Oklahoma 2024

10 Best Public Colleges in Oklahoma

Colleges and Universities in Oklahoma

What are Oklahoma’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Public Colleges in Oklahoma 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Oklahoma

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater

Most Influential Alumni

Oklahoma State University–Stillwater’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Central Oklahoma

Most Influential Alumni

University of Central Oklahoma’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Northeastern State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Most Influential Alumni

Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Langston University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at East Central University

Most Influential Alumni

East Central University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Most Influential Alumni

Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Cameron University

Most Influential Alumni

Cameron University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Most Influential Alumni

Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Rogers State University

Most Influential Alumni

Rogers State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Most Influential Alumni

Oklahoma Panhandle State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology

Career Outlook for degree at Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City

Oklahoma’s Best Public College in Your Area of Interest