Most Affordable Colleges in Oklahoma 2023

Published: May 3, 2021
Updated: Sep 8, 2023

Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in Oklahoma. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Oklahoma 2023

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

Northeastern State University 99%
Southwestern Oklahoma State University 94%
University of Oklahoma 85%
University of Central Oklahoma 81%
Southeastern Oklahoma State University 74%
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater 68%
East Central University 65%
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma 63%
Northwestern Oklahoma State University 59%
Bacone College 55%

Southeastern Oklahoma State University 24 to 1
Randall University 22 to 1
University of Oklahoma 20 to 1
Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City 20 to 1
Southwestern Oklahoma State University 20 to 1
Rogers State University 19 to 1
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater 18 to 1
East Central University 18 to 1
Cameron University 18 to 1
Oklahoma Panhandle State University 18 to 1

Southwestern Christian University $19,908
Mid-America Christian University $18,838
Randall University $16,190
Bacone College $14,700
University of Central Oklahoma $6,822
Northwestern Oklahoma State University $6,810
Southeastern Oklahoma State University $6,420
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma $6,390
Southwestern Oklahoma State University $6,368
Northeastern State University $6,000

Mid-America Christian University $14,832
Randall University $8,550
University of Oklahoma $8,034
Southwestern Christian University $7,758
University of Central Oklahoma $7,142
Southwestern Oklahoma State University $6,294
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater $5,611
Rogers State University $4,980
Northwestern Oklahoma State University $4,928
Southeastern Oklahoma State University $4,734

Mid-America Christian University
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
Randall University
Southwestern Christian University
Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City
Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Rogers State University
East Central University

Randall University 55%
Bacone College 55%
Northwestern Oklahoma State University 59%
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma 63%
East Central University 65%
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater 68%
Southeastern Oklahoma State University 74%
University of Central Oklahoma 81%
University of Oklahoma 85%
Southwestern Oklahoma State University 94%

Southwestern Christian University 12 to 1
Bacone College 12 to 1
Mid-America Christian University 13 to 1
Langston University 14 to 1
Northwestern Oklahoma State University 15 to 1
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma 16 to 1
University of Central Oklahoma 16 to 1
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology 17 to 1
Northeastern State University 17 to 1
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater 18 to 1

Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City $3,630
Oklahoma Panhandle State University $3,696
Langston University $4,342
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology $4,574
Rogers State University $4,710
Cameron University $4,740
University of Oklahoma $4,920
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater $5,417
East Central University $5,791
Northeastern State University $6,000

Langston University $3,355
Cameron University $3,564
East Central University $4,402
Northeastern State University $4,581
Southeastern Oklahoma State University $4,734
Northwestern Oklahoma State University $4,928
Rogers State University $4,980
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater $5,611
Southwestern Oklahoma State University $6,294
University of Central Oklahoma $7,142

Key Takeaways

Oklahoma, one of the least expensive states to live in the nation, is ideal for college education. It is characterized by a favorable cost-of-living index, cheap food, as well as affordable housing and rental costs.
Studying in Oklahoma opens you to so many options considering higher education in the state is generally affordable.
The options for affordable colleges don’t mean that you will skimp on a quality education. The most affordable colleges in this state happen to be among the best colleges.

Table of Contents

Oklahoma: Home to Affordable Undergraduate Schools

There are many convincing reasons Oklahoma is a good place for college. With 38 accredited public and independent colleges and universities. Even better, many of these are among some of the most affordable colleges in the country.

The cost of education in Oklahoma is more affordable than similar institutions in other regions of the US. And since the cost-of-living index in Oklahoma is extremely favorable, your money can go a long way in food prices, petrol or gas prices, housing, and education.

Affordable Oklahoma Colleges

While it’s generally less expensive to study in Oklahoma in terms of college tuition, finding other means to help minimize your education cost even more is a bonus. Here are some ways you can make college significantly more affordable.

Go to In-State Public Universities

You can save a lot if you stay in your home state for higher education.

In 2020-2021 data from the College Board, in-state college students pay an average of $10,560 for their tuition, while the average out-of-state cost is $27,000.

Another advantage of staying in your home state is that you may be able to avoid paying for housing. Living with your parents while attending college can save you at least $10,000 every year.

Fill Out your FAFSA

Completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to affording college and assessing the type of financial aid package you will receive. This financial aid form will connect you to more than $150 billion in money for college.

The types of aid you may be qualified for are federal grants, work-study jobs, scholarships, and loans. Aside from these need-based programs, other aids like Pell Grants, state merit aid programs, and other scholarships and grants are available for eligible long-income students.

Search for Scholarships

According to Kevin Towns, the director of financial aid at North Central College, it’s best to start early when researching and applying for scholarships. Unfortunately, so many scholarships don’t get administered simply because there are no applicants.

You can scout for scholarships at fastweb.com or scholarships.com.

Go to an Affordable School

You can save a lot on tuition costs by attending a public university. Some neighboring states may even have exchange agreements with Oklahoma. These schools will give in-state tuition rates to residents of Oklahoma.

But, don’t be afraid to apply to a private college! The merit scholarships, grants, and other aid offered by these schools usually make their college cost comparable to state universities.

Private scholarships and merit aid are given to students with high academic achievements. Being active in extracurricular activities may also result in scholarship opportunities and generous grants.

Find a Work-Study Job

You can consider working over the summer or even during college to help secure your expenses for school. You may even be offered a work-study program for a school position as part of an aid package.

Make sure to check the location of your schools and whether there are ample opportunities for part-time jobs nearby.

Take Out Federal Loans (or Borrow for Private Loans)

To help cover your tuition costs, federal loans can help. Although it sounds overwhelming, think of student loan debts as investments in your future, knowing degree holders will likely have better employment and earn more money over time.

Federal student aids offer many advantages over private loans, including lower fixed interest rates or longer grace periods for repayment. There are even opportunities for student loan forgiveness and ease of application.

One example is Sallie Mae, a private lender that offers student loans. Every school has different partnerships with different lenders, so check your school’s financial aid office for federal aid, private student loans, or federal student loan options.

Commute from Home

If possible, try not to live in a residence hall on campus, as this can add thousands to your college cost. But if living on campus is important for you, check for opportunities to help lessen your college expenses, like becoming a resident assistant to oversee undergraduate students in a residence hall.

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.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

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

Oklahoma's Most Affordable Colleges and Universities Badge — Download Badge

How do we determine Oklahoma's best affordable 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.

There are 19 colleges and universities in Oklahoma with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in Oklahoma is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.

Most Affordable Colleges in Oklahoma 2022

These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.

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Oklahoma’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest

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Most Affordable Colleges in Oklahoma 2023

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Oklahoma 2023

Key Takeaways

Oklahoma: Home to Affordable Undergraduate Schools

Affordable Oklahoma Colleges

Go to In-State Public Universities

Fill Out your FAFSA

Search for Scholarships

Go to an Affordable School

Find a Work-Study Job

Take Out Federal Loans (or Borrow for Private Loans)

Commute from Home

Colleges and Universities in Oklahoma

What are Oklahoma’s Colleges & Universities?

Most Affordable Colleges in Oklahoma 2022

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Oklahoma State University–Stillwater’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

University of Central Oklahoma’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

East Central University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Bacone College’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Cameron University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Rogers State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Oklahoma Panhandle State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Southwestern Christian University’s Online Degrees

Mid-America Christian University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Oklahoma’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest