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.
View available schools

Top 5 Schools in Oklahoma

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. Bryant & Stratton College

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • BA - General Management
      • BBA Human Resources Management
      • BBA Medical Services Management
      • BS Human & Social Services
      • General Management (GM) - BBA
      • Health Services Administration - BS
    Associate's
      • Criminal Justice Studies - AAS
      • AS - Business
      • AS - Criminal Justice
      • AS - Accounting
      • AS - Human Resources Specialist
      • AS - IT Networking
    Certificate
      • Business Assistant Diploma
      • Criminal Justice and Security Services Diploma
      • Business - AAS
      • Business Assistant - Diploma
      • Criminal Justice and Security Svcs. - Diploma
      • Accounting Assistant Diploma
  • Online Programs Available
    2. 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 Professional Counselor)
      • Masters in Clinical Psychology (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
  • Online Programs Available
    3. 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
      • BS in Psychology
      • B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology
      • Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an Emphasis in Interpersonal Communication and Human Relationships
      • Bachelor: Business Admin
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
      • Bachelor: Accounting
  • Campus and Online Programs
    4. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Science - Film Production
      • MS - Entertainment Business (Campus)
      • Game Design Masters - Campus
      • Entertainment Business Masters - Campus
      • Computer Science Masters - Online
      • M.S. - Entertainment Business
    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 Game Art Concentration - Campus
    Certificate
      • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online
      • User Experience Bachelors - Online
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DME: Doctor of Music Education
      • LLM: International Legal Studies
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Elementary Education
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Middle Grades Education
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Secondary Education
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
    Certificate
      • CTG: Communication
      • CTG: Criminal Justice
      • CTG: Curriculum and Instruction
      • CTG: Higher Education Administration
      • CTG: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • CTG: Psychology
  • Online Programs Available
    6. Fordham University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance
      • Masters in Social Work
  • Online Programs Available
    7. Penn Foster High School

    Program Options

    High School Diploma
      • HS Diploma
  • Campus and Online Programs
    8. The Chicago School

    Program Options

    Master's
      • M.A. Psychology
      • M.A. Behavioral Economics
      • M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling
      • M.A. Forensic Psychology
      • M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: ARP Track
      • M.A. International Psychology
    Certificate
      • Suicide and Cyberbullying Prevention Certificate
      • Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning
      • Certificate in Forensic Psychology - M.A. Non-Licensure Track to Licensure Bridge Program
      • Certificate in Behavioral Economics
      • Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • Certificate in Organizational Leadership
  • Online Programs Available
    9. Penn Foster

    Program Options

    Certificate
      • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician
      • Career Diploma - Payroll Clerk
      • Career Diploma - Diesel Mechanics/Heavy Truck Maintenance
      • Career Diploma - Home Remodeling and Repair
      • Career Diploma - Medical Billing and Coding
  • Norman, OK

    University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Featured Schools

Bryant & Stratton College

  • BA - General Management
  • Criminal Justice Studies - AAS
  • Business Assistant Diploma

What is your high school graduation status?

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

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

What is your highest level of education completed?

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
  • BS in Psychology

What is your highest level of education?

Full Sail University

  • Master of Science - Film Production
  • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
  • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online

What is your highest level of education?

Liberty University

  • DME: Doctor of Music Education
  • Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
  • CTG: Communication

What is your highest level of education?

Fordham University

  • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance
  • Masters in Social Work

What is your highest level of education completed?

Penn Foster High School

  • HS Diploma

What is your highest level of education?

The Chicago School

  • M.A. Psychology
  • M.A. Behavioral Economics
  • Suicide and Cyberbullying Prevention Certificate
  • Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning

What is your highest level of education completed?