Northwestern Oklahoma State University
#2 Best Education Colleges in Oklahoma- Graduation Rate
- 33% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,358 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $10,104 B
- 41% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 65% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 24.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.7 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Education Colleges in Oklahoma.
Every $1 spent returns $24.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $957,673.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 33% — 43% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $24.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Northwestern Oklahoma State University Matters
Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a public university in Alva, OK and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,498
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Psychology
Why students choose Northwestern Oklahoma 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
Competitive — admits about 65% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 803–1036. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,104 a year after grants and scholarships — 41% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,358 ten years after enrolling — 9% above the typical college, against $17,355 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 35% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.58 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a great fit for students looking for a supportive environment where they can pursue practical degrees. With an acceptance rate of 65%, it welcomes a diverse range of learners. Students here often dive into programs like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Psychology, and Humanities, which are designed to align closely with career goals.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $44,358 within a decade. This figure suggests that many are able to find stable employment and build rewarding careers. The affordability factor is also appealing, with a net price of $10,104 after financial aid. This makes it accessible for a broader range of students, particularly those receiving Pell Grants, which apply to 41% of the student body.
When it comes to the financial bottom line, graduates carry a median debt of $17,355, which is manageable compared to many other institutions. This lower debt load can help graduates focus on their careers rather than financial burdens. Those who thrive at Northwestern Oklahoma State often appreciate a close-knit community and value practical, hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for the workforce.
Rankings
- #2 Best Education Colleges in Oklahoma
- #3 Best Computer Science Colleges in Oklahoma
- #3 Best Data Science Colleges in Oklahoma
- #4 Best Colleges in Oklahoma
- #4 Best Online Colleges in Oklahoma
- #4 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Oklahoma
- #4 Best Biology Colleges in Oklahoma
- #5 Best Bachelor's Programs in Oklahoma
Can I Get In?
How selective Northwestern Oklahoma 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 Northwestern Oklahoma State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Alva, Oklahoma, Northwestern Oklahoma State University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 65% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,003. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 65%
- Retention Rate
- 65%
- SAT Average
- 1003
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- SAT Range
- 803–1036
- ACT Range
- 16–21
- Full-Time Faculty
- 56%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,182
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.61
- First-Gen Students
- 43%
- Applicants
- 1,503
- Admitted
- 848
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 Northwestern Oklahoma State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northwestern Oklahoma State University is $11,664, 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 $10,104. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,439 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,355 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,970
- Out-of-State
- $11,664
- Avg Net Price
- $10,104
- Median Debt
- $17,355
- Pell Grant Rate
- 41%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 37%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,439
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,828
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,539
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,065
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 Northwestern Oklahoma 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 Northwestern Oklahoma State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northwestern Oklahoma State University report median earnings of $44,358, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,997
- 8 Years
- $43,114
- 10 Years
- $44,358
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.39x
- Earning > $25K
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (50)
- 13%
- 100% (50)
- 13%
- 100% (50)
- 13%
- 100% (50)
- 13%
How Northwestern 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 Northwestern Oklahoma State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Northwestern Oklahoma State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,104/year ($40,416 total). Graduates earn $44,358 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $998,089 in total earnings — a net gain of $957,673 (24.7× your investment). The median debt is $17,355, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 33% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $40,416
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $998,089
- Net Return
- $957,673
- ROI Multiple
- 24.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,104
- Median Debt
- $17,355
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 33%
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 Northwestern Oklahoma State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northwestern Oklahoma 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 1.81%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.7% 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 16.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $61,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.81%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 16.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $83,421
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $7,533,056
- Investment Income
- $508,258
Top Programs
The fields Northwestern Oklahoma 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 18% $39,438 early-career
- Health Professions 13% $67,139 early-career
- Education 11% $45,128 early-career
- Psychology 9% $28,558 early-career
- Humanities 7%
- Biology & Biomedical 6%
- Computer Science & IT 6%
- Criminal Justice 3% $36,619 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 Northwestern Oklahoma 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 Northwestern Oklahoma State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Alva, Oklahoma, Northwestern Oklahoma State University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 65% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,003. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northwestern Oklahoma State University is $11,664, 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 $10,104. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,439 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,355 in federal student loans.
Is Northwestern Oklahoma State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northwestern Oklahoma State University report median earnings of $44,358, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Northwestern Oklahoma State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northwestern Oklahoma 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 1.81%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.7% 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 16.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $61,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Northwestern Oklahoma 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 Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
- Texas A&M University-TexarkanaTexarkana, TX · Close peer30% grad $45,515 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- East Central UniversityAda, OK · Close peer34% grad $44,962 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Coppin State UniversityBaltimore, MD · Close peer26% grad $46,490 earn 46% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Missouri Valley CollegeMarshall, MO · Close peer23% grad $43,221 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Bethel UniversityMcKenzie, TN · Close peer35% grad $47,482 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Concord UniversityAthens, WV · Close peer41% grad $42,703 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Northwestern Oklahoma 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 Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note