Rankings / By State
Best Nursing Colleges in Oklahoma
- 30
- Schools
- $44,211
- Avg. Earnings
- 38%
- Avg. Graduation
- $13,899
- Avg. Net Price
- $17,063
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 30 schools run from $33,261 to $61,408, a 1.8× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Oklahoma City Community College delivers the most for the money: roughly $38,146 in median earnings against $4,739 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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Oklahoma City Community College is the lowest-cost school here at $4,739 a year in net price.
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University of Tulsa graduates 73% of its students, versus a 38% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Redlands Community College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.18× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Oklahoma City University ($54,655 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, University of Tulsa ($61,408), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Oklahoma City Community College costs $4,739 a year and Oklahoma Wesleyan University costs $28,358. Yet their graduates earn $38,146 and $59,841, nowhere near the $23,619 price gap.
- On value, Oklahoma City Community College beats University of Tulsa: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with Oklahoma City Community College and University of Tulsa. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
Healthcare is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $45K within a decade, and registered nurse roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oklahoma City University #1 overall | $54,655 ▲ +24% vs avg | $22,857 | 65% | 82 |
| 2 Southwestern Oklahoma State University #2 overall | $45,744 ▲ +3% vs avg | $14,459 | 37% | 81 |
| 3 Oklahoma Panhandle State University #3 overall | $44,933 ▲ +2% vs avg | $7,413 | 23% | 78 |
| $61,408 ▲ +39% vs avg | $15,000 | 73% | 76 | |
| $45,379 ▲ +3% vs avg | $12,710 | 36% | 75 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Nursing Colleges in Oklahoma
This analysis ranks 30 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $44,211 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 38% and an average net price of $13,899.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Oklahoma City Community College — Net Price: $4,739 | Graduation Rate: 24%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of Tulsa — 73% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: University of Tulsa — Median alumni earnings: $61,408
CollegeRanker Primary Research
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Healthcare Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the U.S. healthcare workforce?
$44,646
Median earnings (10yr)
35%
Median graduation rate
$12,777
Median net price
1.8%
Avg. mobility rate
Health-professions programs sit at the center of one of the country’s most acute labor stories. An aging population and chronic shortages in nursing and allied health mean these programs are, in effect, staffing the health system. The schools that rise here pair classroom training with real clinical placements and strong licensure pass rates. That pairing is the difference between holding a credential and holding a job.
The median graduation rate across these 30 schools is 35%. Median graduate earnings reach $44,646 ten years after enrollment. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $12,777 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $17,361. Some 38% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 1.8%.
What we’re seeing: demographic pressure keeps demand high, and programs with embedded clinical networks convert that demand into employment fastest. Oklahoma City University leads the list, and graduates across these programs earn a median of $44,646 ten years after enrollment. The constraint is not jobs. It is clinical capacity and licensure throughput, and that is where the strongest programs pull away.
The podium
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Oklahoma City University lands at #1 with a 82/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $54,655 a decade after enrolling, 24% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,857 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Southwestern Oklahoma State University lands at #2 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (65/100). Graduates earn a median $45,744 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,459 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Oklahoma Panhandle State University lands at #3 with a 78/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $44,933 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $7,413 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
University of Tulsa lands at #4 with a 76/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $61,408 a decade after enrolling, 39% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,000 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Northeastern State University lands at #5 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $45,379 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,710 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Eastern Oklahoma State College lands at #6 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $38,658 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,830 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Oklahoma City Community College lands at #7 with a 74/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $38,146 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,739 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Tulsa Community College lands at #8 with a 74/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $39,746 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,288 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
University of Central Oklahoma lands at #9 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $48,351 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,309 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Oklahoma Christian University lands at #10 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $49,203 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,872 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Carl Albert State College lands at #11 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (42/100). Graduates earn a median $34,117 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,607 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Northwestern Oklahoma State University lands at #12 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $44,358 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,104 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Rogers State University lands at #13 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $43,166 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,314 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Western Oklahoma State College lands at #14 with a 71/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (50/100). Graduates earn a median $38,248 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,267 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology lands at #15 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $45,634 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,999 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Northern Oklahoma College lands at #16 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (63/100). Graduates earn a median $37,566 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,625 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
East Central University lands at #17 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (72/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (64/100). Graduates earn a median $44,962 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $8,683 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Cameron University lands at #18 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $40,118 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,912 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Southern Nazarene University lands at #19 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $54,951 a decade after enrolling, 24% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,084 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College lands at #20 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (73/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $38,337 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,001 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
Oklahoma Baptist University lands at #21 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (56/100). Graduates earn a median $48,434 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,958 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
Oral Roberts University lands at #22 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $46,885 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,365 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Redlands Community College lands at #23 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $37,224 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,964 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Seminole State College lands at #24 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $35,390 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,628 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Rose State College lands at #25 with a 64/100 composite, led by value per dollar (76/100) and pulled down by academic quality (40/100). Graduates earn a median $37,555 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,148 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Murray State College lands at #26 with a 63/100 composite, led by value per dollar (67/100) and pulled down by social mobility (52/100). Graduates earn a median $36,545 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,844 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Stillwater, OK · 75% accepted · $17,447 net
Why it ranks #27
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus lands at #27 with a 63/100 composite, led by academic quality (76/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $57,413 a decade after enrolling, 30% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,447 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Langston University lands at #28 with a 60/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $33,261 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,504 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Oklahoma Wesleyan University lands at #29 with a 58/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (68/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $59,841 a decade after enrolling, 35% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,358 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #30
Mid-America Christian University lands at #30 with a 58/100 composite, led by academic quality (67/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $46,116 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,692 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 30 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Registered Nurses and related roles — a field with $86,070 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the Registered Nurse career guide →Choosing the right nursing program in Oklahoma can feel overwhelming, especially with 31 schools to consider. Each institution offers distinct pathways and opportunities, making the decision crucial for future careers in healthcare. Graduates from nursing programs often find themselves in high-demand roles, with average earnings of $44,177 in the state.
What sets the top nursing colleges apart are their outcomes, including graduation rates, average earnings, and student debt levels. These factors provide insight into the effectiveness of the programs and the potential return on investment for students. As you review the list below, consider how these metrics reflect each program's ability to prepare students for success in the nursing field.
For example, the University of Tulsa stands out with an impressive $61,408 average earning and a 73% graduation rate, signaling strong outcomes for its nursing graduates. In contrast, Oklahoma City Community College, while offering a low net price of $4,739, has a graduation rate of just 24%, which may raise questions about the program's completion and support for students. This contrast highlights the tradeoffs that students face when choosing between affordability and potential earnings.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 24 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.8%. Cameron University leads the group at 3%, with Southwestern Oklahoma State University (2.9%) and Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (2.6%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 13.9% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Langston University leads at 29.3%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 14.6% across this list. University of Tulsa posts the highest success rate at 22.7%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.38 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Oklahoma Baptist University reaches 1.76, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
While the University of Tulsa excels with higher earnings and graduation rates, Oklahoma City Community College offers a significantly lower net price. However, the latter's lower graduation rate at 24% suggests potential challenges for students finishing their programs. This disparity reflects how program support and resources can impact student success.
As you sift through the list of nursing schools, weigh these data points against your own priorities. Consider factors such as location, program fit, and financial situation. For instance, a lower net price might be appealing, but if it comes with lower completion rates, it could mean longer paths to graduation and entry into the workforce.
The data illustrates the stakes involved in choosing a nursing program. For families, this decision can shape not just educational outcomes but also long-term financial stability. Investing in a program with a solid track record can lead to lucrative job opportunities and a fulfilling career in healthcare. Each family's choice will hinge on balancing these elements to find the right fit.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Nursing Colleges in Oklahoma: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Nursing Colleges in Oklahoma ranking? +
Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, OK ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Nursing Colleges in Oklahoma ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $54,655 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 65% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
University of Tulsa posts the highest median earnings on this list: $61,408 ten years after enrollment, well above the $44,211 average across the 30 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Oklahoma City Community College leads: graduates earn a median $38,146 against net price of about $4,739 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
University of Tulsa has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 73%, compared with a 38% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $13,899 a year across the 30 ranked schools with cost data. Oklahoma City Community College is among the most affordable at roughly $4,739. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Nursing Colleges in Oklahoma ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 30 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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