Best College ROI in Ok 2026
28 colleges in Ok analyzed for return on investment. East Central University leads with a ROI Score of 99/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ok has 28 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 15 public institutions and 13 private ones. Across the 28 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $25K and earn $83K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
96% of Ok colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at East Central University (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ok
East Central University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ok's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $13K in median debt.
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer and Information Sciences. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Oklahoma Christian University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Science. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $21K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Ok
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Central University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $13K | $95K | A (99) |
| 2 | Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $18K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | Oklahoma Christian University(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | Northwestern Oklahoma State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 5 | Oklahoma Panhandle State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 6 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 7 | Southwestern Oklahoma State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma(public) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 9 | University of Tulsa(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | Cameron University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $24K | $95K | A (94) |
| 12 | Mid-America Christian University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $26K | $95K | A (94) |
| 13 | Oklahoma City University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (94) |
| 14 | Southern Nazarene University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $25K | $95K | A (94) |
| 15 | University of Central Oklahoma(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $25K | $95K | A (94) |
| 16 | Northeastern State University(public) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (94) |
| 17 | Langston University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $27K | $95K | A (93) |
| 18 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $26K | $95K | A (93) |
| 19 | Oral Roberts University(private) | Mathematics | $32K | $78K | A (90) |
| 20 | Rogers State University(public) | Engineering Technology | $29K | $65K | A (81) |
College debt and earnings data for Ok is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
East Central University has the best ROI in Ok with a score of 99/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $13K in median debt.
Across 28 Ok colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $25K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $83K.
East Central University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ok has 28 colleges in our database (15 public, 13 private). Of the 28 with reportable ROI, 96% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).