There are many options for attending a college, university or career school in the state of Oklahoma. Learn about different institutions and their closeness to large cities, student populations, net costs, and graduation rates, according to data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), to make an informed decision about your education.
Oklahoma Schools Near Large Cities
Some students prefer to live in cities and want the same for their college experience. Whether it be a matter of location, closeness to family, or any number of other factors, colleges in metropolitan areas tend to be popular. There are several Oklahoma schools located within large cities in the state. Some of the schools located in Oklahoma's three large cities include:
- Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City (Oklahoma City)
- Oklahoma City Community College (Oklahoma City)
- Tulsa Community College (Tulsa)
- Oral Roberts University (Tulsa)
- University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus (Norman)
Largest Schools in Oklahoma
Attending school at a university with a large campus can be beneficial for many students. Larger campus size often indicates a variety of programs and activities available, as well as more people to interact with. The NCES lists the Oklahoma schools with the highest student populations in fall 2021 as:
- University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus (28,042)
- Oklahoma State University - Main Campus (24,577)
- Tulsa Community College (14,428)
- University of Central Oklahoma (13,250)
- Oklahoma City Community College (11,388)
Lowest Net Price
The average net price for a college or university is determined by subtracting the average amount of government or institutional financial aid a student receives from the total cost of attendance. The figures for these Oklahoma schools are based on data from the NCES for full-time undergraduates in the 2020-2021 academic year. The traditional schools with the lowest net price include:
- Tulsa Community College ($5,393)
- Carl Albert State College ($6,370)
- Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City ($7,481)
- Northern Oklahoma College ($7,580)
- Redlands Community College ($7,737)
Highest Graduation Rate
The overall graduation rate for a school includes the number of students who completed their studies within 150% of 'normal time' (for example, six years would be the 'normal time' for a bachelor's program). Schools with the highest graduation rates were 2-year schools and technology centers; the 4-year schools with the highest graduation rates were the University of Tulsa (73%), the University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus (76%), and Oklahoma State University - Main Campus (66%). Based on NCES figures for full-time beginning students, the following Oklahoma schools had some of the highest graduation rates for undergraduates among schools offering a variety of programs of study as of 2022.
- Gordon Cooper Technology Center (70%)
- Central Technology Center (56%)
- Tulsa Technology Center - Lemley Campus (72%)
- Meridian Technology Center (68%)
- Pioneer Technology Center (51%)
Attending college is a big decision, so make sure to consider various factors like a school's location, student population, net cost, and graduation rate before enrolling in one of Oklahoma's many colleges and universities.
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