by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Oklahoma, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **31** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 31 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
The best college for you depends on what you want to study. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our tool College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the leading colleges below:
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in Oklahoma. Located in Norman, OK, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,084. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus students take on a median of $23,138 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of Tulsa earned it the #2 place in Oklahoma. This private not-for-profit school is set in Tulsa, OK. University Of Tulsa graduates 72% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $49,546. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,166 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,638 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, which ranked #3 this year. University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is a public school based in Oklahoma City, OK. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,925, compared with $25,714 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $81,828. University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center students take on a median of $22,613 in debt.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Oklahoma. This public school is set in Stillwater, OK. Oklahoma State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Students from in state pay about $10,110 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,993 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,337 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #5 makes Oklahoma City University one of the top colleges in Oklahoma. This private not-for-profit school is set in Oklahoma City, OK. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $34,754 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,379. Students borrow a median of $27,248 to complete a degree here.
Oklahoma Christian University placed #6 among the best colleges in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Edmond, OK. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $27,180 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,615. Oklahoma Christian University students take on a median of $24,721 in debt.
Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee landed the #7 spot in Oklahoma this year. Set in Okmulgee, OK, Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,774, while out-of-state students pay about $11,384. Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,354. The median student debt is $13,356.
Southern Nazarene University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Bethany, OK, Southern Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $31,190. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,851. Typical student debt is $29,684.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Weatherford, OK, Southwestern Oklahoma State University is a public institution. Southwestern Oklahoma State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 41%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,469, compared with $8,499 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,280. Southwestern Oklahoma State University students take on a median of $20,795 in debt.
Oklahoma Baptist University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Shawnee, OK. About 52% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $35,570. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,100 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,425 in student loans.
University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #11 spot in Oklahoma this year. Set in Edmond, OK, University Of Central Oklahoma is a public institution. About 37% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,818, with out-of-state students paying around $19,704. University Of Central Oklahoma graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,085. Typical student debt is $23,321.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University landed the #12 spot in Oklahoma this year. Based in Durant, OK, Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a public institution. Southeastern Oklahoma State University graduates 32% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,200, while out-of-state students pay about $16,410. Median early-career earnings reach $51,797. Southeastern Oklahoma State University students take on a median of $18,660 in debt.
Oklahoma City Community College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Oklahoma City, OK, Oklahoma City Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,059 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,810. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,848. Oklahoma City Community College students take on a median of $13,919 in debt.
Northeastern State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Northeastern State University is a public school based in Tahlequah, OK. Northeastern State University graduates 35% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,810, with out-of-state students paying around $17,290. Northeastern State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,353. Graduates carry a median of $23,465 in student loans.
Oral Roberts University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Tulsa, OK, Oral Roberts University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,470. Median early-career earnings reach $41,180. Oral Roberts University students take on a median of $28,022 in debt.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Set in Bartlesville, OK, Oklahoma Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Oklahoma Wesleyan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 26%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,550. Oklahoma Wesleyan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,764. Graduates carry a median of $30,970 in student loans.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a public school based in Alva, OK. Northwestern Oklahoma State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 30%. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,970, with out-of-state students paying around $11,664. Median early-career earnings reach $46,196. Typical student debt is $22,438.
Tulsa Community College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Tulsa Community College is a public school based in Tulsa, OK. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,792, with out-of-state students paying around $9,720. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,718 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $15,789 in student loans.
Rogers State University landed the #19 spot in Oklahoma this year. Based in Claremore, OK, Rogers State University is a public institution. Roughly 31% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,750, compared with $16,410 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,644. The median student debt is $22,936.
Northern Oklahoma College landed the #20 spot in Oklahoma this year. Located in Tonkawa, OK, Northern Oklahoma College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,083 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,848. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,565 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $11,811 in student loans.
East Central University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in Ada, OK, East Central University is a public institution. East Central University posts a six-year graduation rate of 34%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,032, with out-of-state students paying around $17,842. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,103. The median student debt is $21,840.
Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Oklahoma City, OK, Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,779, while out-of-state students pay about $9,564. Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,580. Typical student debt is $18,726.
University Of Science And Arts Of Oklahoma came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based in Chickasha, OK, University Of Science And Arts Of Oklahoma is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,000, with out-of-state students paying around $20,190. Graduates go on to earn a median of $30,136 early in their careers.
Carl Albert State College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Carl Albert State College is a public school based in Poteau, OK. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $8,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $33,109 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $10,583 in student loans.
Murray State College landed the #25 spot in Oklahoma this year. Murray State College is a public school based in Tishomingo, OK. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,230, compared with $11,430 for out-of-state students. Murray State College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,916. The median student debt is $16,542.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
