University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus vs University of California-Riverside

Side-by-side ROI comparison using U.S. Department of Education data. Which school delivers a better financial return?

Too close to call - both schools are within 3 points

ROI Score Comparison

83
Strong Value
Earnings
87(0.46x)
Payback
82(7.2 yr)
Debt/Earn
84(0.42)
Completion
86(75%)
Repayment
71(80%)
83
Strong Value
Earnings
92(0.57x)
Payback
89(6 yr)
Debt/Earn
78(0.48)
Completion
86(76%)
Repayment
48(73%)

The Financial Comparison

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus and University of California-Riverside are closely matched on financial return. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus scores 83/100 while University of California-Riverside scores 83/100 - a gap small enough that individual circumstances (major choice, financial aid package, in-state vs out-of-state status) will likely matter more than the overall score difference.

On cost, University of California-Riverside comes in at $14,304 per year (net price after aid) versus $15,300 at University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus - a difference of $996 annually, or roughly $3,984 over four years.

Ten years after enrollment, University of California-Riverside graduates earn a median of $67,699 compared to $63,126 at University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus. The payback period is 7.2 years at University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus versus 6 years at University of California-Riverside.

Graduates leave University of California-Riverside with a median $17,500 in debt versus $20,654 at University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus. The debt-to-earnings ratios are 0.42 and 0.48 respectively - financial advisors generally recommend staying below 1.0.

Head-to-Head Numbers

MetricUniversity of Oklahoma-No...University of California-...
Cost
In-State Tuition$9,797$15,606
Out-of-State Tuition$27,377$49,806
Net Price (avg)$15,300$14,304
Total 4-Year Cost$61,200$57,216
Outcomes
Median Earnings (6yr)$48,600$36,800
Median Earnings (10yr)$63,126$67,699
Graduation Rate75.3%76.0%
Payback Period7.2 yr6 yr
Debt
Median Debt$20,654$17,500
Monthly Payment$219$186
Debt-to-Earnings0.420.48
3yr Repayment Rate80.0%72.7%
5yr Repayment Rate74.3%69.2%
Admissions
Acceptance Rate76.6%76.4%
Enrollment22,73422,593

Net Price by Family Income

Average annual net price after grants and scholarships, by household income bracket.

Family IncomeUniversity of Oklaho...University of Califo...
$0-$30,000$10,509$8,852
$30,001-$48,000$10,602$9,840
$48,001-$75,000$14,536$13,111
$75,001-$110,000$19,342$16,571
$110,001+$20,986$30,393

Earnings by Major - Head to Head

Median earnings for majors offered at both schools. Green highlights the higher figure.

MajorUniversity of Oklaho...University of Califo...
Computer Science$110,853$117,705
Computer Engineering$105,525$107,193
Electrical Engineering$91,833$102,630
Chemical Engineering$94,291$91,457
Mechanical Engineering$91,653$93,721
Business Administration, Management, and Operations$88,953$72,027
Geological and Earth Sciences$85,207$59,677
Information Science$76,201$76,090
Economics$76,123$66,682
Mathematics$76,026$63,596
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$61,165$72,295
International/Globalization Studies$68,378$57,959
Liberal Arts and Sciences$65,474$62,211
Natural Resources Conservation$64,798$64,944
Business Information Systems$55,460$64,147

ROI Sub-Score Breakdown

ComponentUniversity of Oklaho...University of Califo...
Earnings Premium (30%)8792
Payback Period (25%)8289
Debt / Earnings (20%)8478
Completion Rate (15%)8686
Repayment Rate (10%)7148
Overall ROI Score8383
Strong Value

The Verdict

These two schools are closely matched on financial outcomes. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus edges out University of California-Riverside by 0 points (83 vs 83), but the difference is small enough that major choice and individual circumstances will matter more than the school-level ROI difference. Run the numbers for your specific situation using the calculator below.

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83

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Strong Value - Full profile and breakdown

83

University of California-Riverside

Strong Value - Full profile and breakdown

Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, as of 2024-2025. Earnings are measured 6 and 10 years after enrollment. Net prices reflect average aid for first-time, full-time students.See full methodology.