Top Oklahoma Colleges and Universities

About this article
Oklahoma is located in central Great Plains region of the country and boasts of open spaces and low costs of living. The state has several nationally-recognized institutions of higher learning, five of which are described below.

Top 5 Schools in Oklahoma

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University of Tulsa

The University of Tulsa was founded in 1894 as a private, Presbyterian university; it has subsequently developed to become 'one of the sleeper gems of the Great Plains' by the Princeton Review. Its undergraduate enrollment is currently 2,882 students, making the school small enough to provide personalized instruction. Among its many prestigious academic programs, its petroleum engineering department is among the world's best. Currently, the University of Tulsa is ranked #91 by US News and World Report. The student body also enjoys an excellent quality of life and was ranked sixth among all colleges in the 'quality of life' category in Princeton Review.

University of Oklahoma

In 1890, before Oklahoma even became a state, the University of Oklahoma opened its doors in Norman. The school occupies the position of #108 on US News and World Report's list of America's Best Colleges and has also been recognized for many years as having the highest per-capita enrollment of National Merit Scholars among all public universities. OU enrolls 19,573 undergraduates in one of 153 academic programs and has a nationally-recognized meteorology department. Many students and faculty can also be found cheering on the Oklahoma Sooner football team, which is a perennial contender for national champions.

Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State University was founded in 1890 in Stillwater as an agricultural and mechanical college. Its focus on mechanical engineering and agriculture remains, as the university enjoys acclaim for these two programs. There are 18,895 undergraduates on OSU's campus enjoying what Princeton Review has names as one of the nations 'Best Value' colleges. Another area of particular distinction is the campus's department of architecture, which has won the second-highest number of international competitions. Much of student life in the winter and spring months revolves around OSU's nationally-ranked basketball team and the games at the storied Gallagher-Iba Arena.

University of Central Oklahoma

Founded in 1890 as a training school for teachers, the University of Central Oklahoma still has the state's largest and most respected schools of education. The campus is located in Edmond, OK and currently enrolls 14,309 undergraduates. UCO also boasts of a nationally-recognized jazz studies division, and students regularly can be found performing at the nearby Jazz Lab. As the state's third-largest university, UCO continues to offer residents of Oklahoma a world-class education with the convenience of close proximity to Oklahoma City.

Northeastern State University

Northeastern State University is located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, right at the foot of the Ozarks. Established in 1851 in what was then Indian Territory, the school has grown to enroll 8,362 undergraduates. This small community is also the capital of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and more Native American Students are enrolled at Northeastern State than at any other public university. NSU also has Oklahoma's only College of Optometry.

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Quantitative Research
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Qualitative Research)
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Quantitative Research)
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning
    Master's
      • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
      • M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Factors
      • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
      • MS in Psychology: General Psychology
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (ITL)
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor: Communications
      • BS in Psychology
      • B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology
      • Bachelor: Business Admin
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
      • Bachelor: Accounting
  • Online Programs Available
    2. National University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DBA - General Business
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice
      • Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
      • Doctor of Education in Instructional Design
      • Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
      • EdD - Curriculum and Teaching
    Master's
      • MAPsy - General Psychology
      • MEd - Curriculum and Teaching
      • MEd - General Education
      • MEd - Reading Education
      • MSOL - Criminal Justice
      • Master of Science in Computer Science
    Certificate
      • EdS - Curriculum and Teaching
      • EdS - General Education
      • EdS - Social Emotional Learning
      • EdS - Early Childhood Education
      • EdS - International Education
      • EdS - Organizational Leadership
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Masters in Psychology
      • Masters in Dispute Resolution
      • Masters in Legal Studies
      • Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • Masters in Clinical Psychology (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Wake Forest University - School of Professional Studies

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Communications
      • Master of Health Administration
      • Master of Health Informatics
      • Master of Public Administration
      • Masters in Project Management
      • Master of Educational Leadership
    Certificate
      • Digital Marketing and Analytics Certificate
      • Project Management Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Penn Foster

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • A.S. Degree in Veterinary Technology
    Certificate
      • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician
      • Career Diploma - Sterile Processing
      • Career Diploma - Medical Administrative Assistant
      • Medical Assistant Diploma
      • Career Diploma - Diesel Mechanics/Heavy Truck Maintenance
  • Woodward, OK

    Woodward Beauty College

  • Burns Flat, OK

    Western Technology Center

  • Online Programs Available
    8. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DME: Music Education
      • LLM: International Legal Studies
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction: Elementary Education
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction: Middle Grades Education
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction: Secondary Education
    Master's
      • MA: Communication
      • MS: Criminal Justice
      • MA: Medical Sciences: Biopsychology
      • MA: Music Education: Music Studies
      • MBA: American Legal Studies
      • MS: Criminal Justice: Public Administration
    Certificate
      • GRAD CERT: Strategic Communication
      • GRAD CERT: Fundamentals of Communication
      • CERT: Criminal Justice
      • CERT: Journalism Education
      • GRAD CERT: Advanced Criminal Justice
      • GRAD CERT: Applied Communication Studies
  • Campus and Online Programs
    9. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Game Design Masters - Campus
      • Entertainment Business Masters - Campus
      • Computer Science Masters - Online
      • M.S. - Entertainment Business
      • M.S. - New Media Journalism
      • M.S. - Public Relations
    Bachelor's
      • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
      • Bachelor of Science - Software Development
      • Communications Bachelors with Creative Writing Concentration - Campus
      • Film Production Masters - Campus
      • Communications Bachelors with Media Communications Concentration - Campus
      • Visual Arts Bachelors with Film Concentration - Campus
    Certificate
      • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online
      • User Experience Bachelors - Online
  • Online Programs Available
    10. Fordham University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance

Featured Schools

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
  • Bachelor: Communications

What is your highest level of education?

National University

  • DBA - General Business
  • MAPsy - General Psychology
  • EdS - Curriculum and Teaching

What is your highest level of education?

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Psychology
  • Masters in Dispute Resolution
  • Masters in Legal Studies

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Wake Forest University - School of Professional Studies

  • Master of Communications
  • Master of Health Administration
  • Digital Marketing and Analytics Certificate
  • Project Management Certificate

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Penn Foster

  • A.S. Degree in Veterinary Technology
  • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
  • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician

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Woodward Beauty College

Western Technology Center

Liberty University

  • DME: Music Education
  • MA: Communication
  • GRAD CERT: Strategic Communication

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