Northeastern State University
#1 Best Education Colleges in Oklahoma- Graduation Rate
- 36% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,379 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,710 B-
- 26% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 100% F
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Education Colleges in Oklahoma.
Every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $961,231.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 36% — 37% below the national average.
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Inventor rate in the top 18% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
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A top feeder school for 4 major employers.
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Social mobility rate of 2.20% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 1.4%
- Top 18%
- Patents
- 380
- Linked to graduates
- Employer Pipelines
- 4
- Top feeder programs
- Patent Citations
- 1,020
- Downstream influence
Why Northeastern State University Matters
Northeastern State University is a public university in Tahlequah, OK and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 4,772
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Psychology, Education, Health Professions
Why students choose Northeastern State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 100% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 866–1136. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,710 a year after grants and scholarships — 26% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,379 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $17,367 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 23% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.41 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Northeastern State University is a great fit for students looking for an open-door approach to higher education. With a 100% acceptance rate, it welcomes a diverse range of learners, particularly those interested in fields like Business & Marketing, Psychology, Health Professions, Education, and Criminal Justice. The university's compact size, with around 4,772 students, allows for a more personalized experience, which can be a significant factor in student satisfaction and success.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $45,379 within ten years, providing a solid return on their investment. While the graduation rate stands at 36%, many students who complete their degrees see positive outcomes and opportunities for advancement in their careers. Affordability is a crucial aspect here; with many students receiving Pell Grants, the financial support makes it easier for individuals to take that next step after their studies.
On the financial side, the net price for attending Northeastern State University is about $12,710 after aid, which can be manageable for many. The median debt load upon graduation is $17,367, which is relatively low, making it easier for graduates to start their careers without being heavily burdened by loans. This school tends to attract students who are looking for a supportive environment where they can thrive academically and socially, especially those who appreciate the close-knit community feel.
Rankings
- #1 Best Education Colleges in Oklahoma
- #3 Best Colleges in Oklahoma
- #3 Best Bachelor's Programs in Oklahoma
- #3 Best Master's Programs in Oklahoma
- #3 Best Online Colleges in Oklahoma
- #3 Best Business Colleges in Oklahoma
- #3 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Oklahoma
- #4 Colleges With the Highest Acceptance Rates
Can I Get In?
How selective Northeastern State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northeastern State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Northeastern State University, located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,049. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Retention Rate
- 61%
- SAT Average
- 1049
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- SAT Range
- 866–1136
- ACT Range
- 18–23
- Full-Time Faculty
- 74%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,084
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.80
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
- Applicants
- 1,674
- Admitted
- 1,665
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northeastern State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northeastern State University is $17,290, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,710. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,598 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,367 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,810
- Out-of-State
- $17,290
- Avg Net Price
- $12,710
- Median Debt
- $17,367
- Pell Grant Rate
- 45%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 36%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,598
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,827
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,612
- Family Income $110K+
- $19,511
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Northeastern State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Northeastern State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northeastern State University earn a median of $45,379, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $41,207
- 8 Years
- $44,103
- 10 Years
- $45,379
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.38x
- Earning > $25K
- 62%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (167)
- 18%
- 100% (167)
- 18%
- 100% (167)
- 18%
- 100% (167)
- 18%
Where Grads Go
Northeastern State University is a top feeder for:
Rank among programs feeding each employer.
Top employers of Northeastern State University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
How Northeastern Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Northeastern State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Northeastern State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,710/year ($50,840 total). Graduates earn $45,379 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,012,071 in total earnings — a net gain of $961,231 (19.9× your investment). The median debt is $17,367, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 36% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $50,840
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,012,071
- Net Return
- $961,231
- ROI Multiple
- 19.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,710
- Median Debt
- $17,367
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 36%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Northeastern State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northeastern State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.20%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $62,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.20%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 15.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $84,372
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Northeastern State University produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 18% nationally), with 380 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 1.39%
- Top 18% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 380
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 1,020
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 1.02%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,372,101
- Investment Income
- $359,317
Top Programs
The fields Northeastern State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 20% $59,931 early-career
- Psychology 14% $33,961 early-career
- Education 12% $42,610 early-career
- Health Professions 10% $82,387 early-career
- Criminal Justice 7% $38,047 early-career
- Humanities 7% $31,312 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4% $38,614 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3% $71,646 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Northeastern State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northeastern State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Northeastern State University, located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,049. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northeastern State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northeastern State University is $17,290, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,710. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,598 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,367 in federal student loans.
Is Northeastern State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northeastern State University earn a median of $45,379, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Northeastern State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northeastern State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.20%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $62,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Northeastern State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northeastern State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.41, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Northeastern State University.
- National Louis UniversityChicago, IL · Close peer33% grad $45,799 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Columbus State UniversityColumbus, GA · Close peer42% grad $44,544 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata, CA · Close peer48% grad $47,626 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Purdue University Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN · Close peer34% grad $45,872 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Nicholls State UniversityThibodaux, LA · Close peer54% grad $45,454 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Northwestern State University of LouisianaNatchitoches, LA · Close peer44% grad $47,021 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Northeastern State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northeastern State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.41, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note