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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
76%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1200/26
University of Oklahoma’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
66%
Student body
21K
Median SAT/ACT
1135/24
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
37%
Student body
11K
University of Central Oklahoma’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
39%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1040/20
Northeastern State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
39%
Student body
4K
Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
19%
Student body
2K
Langston University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
31%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
960/21
East Central University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
74%
Graduation
30%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
985/20
Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
55%
Graduation
7%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
938/17
Bacone College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
27%
Student body
3K
Cameron University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
59%
Graduation
30%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
960/19
Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
25%
Student body
3K
Rogers State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
26%
Student body
1K
Oklahoma Panhandle State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
39%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
900/16
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
55%
Graduation
19%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1017/20
Randall University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$20K
Graduation
24%
Student body
<1K
Southwestern Christian University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
40%
Student body
2K
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
27%
Student body
4K
Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$19K
Graduation
36%
Student body
1K
Mid-America Christian University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in: