Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, Oklahoma · Public · 99.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 39/100 · Poor Value
Northeastern State University (NSU) earns an overall ROI score of 39 in the Poor Value (red) tier, despite reasonably affordable in-state tuition. The headline drag is the 35.4% completion rate - one of the lower figures in the Oklahoma public-university system - combined with an 18.4-year payback period that signals the average graduate's earnings premium does not efficiently cover their cost. In-state tuition runs $7,810, but net price climbs to $12,710 (notably exceeding tuition due to fees and indirect costs), putting four-year cost at $50,840. Median debt of $17,367 against $33,500 six-year earnings produces a 0.518 debt-to-earnings ratio - acceptable but not strong. Ten-year earnings recover to $45,379, suggesting the typical graduate does see modest wage growth. Repayment is the second weak spot: only 66% of borrowers reduce principal at three years, and that figure drops to 54.4% at five years before partial recovery - a sign of payment instability tied to the rural Oklahoma labor market. The earnings premium is positive at 20.4%, modest but real. NSU's biggest structural challenge is persistence: students who graduate from the school's nursing, computer science, and accounting programs see strong outcomes, but most enrollees never reach those endpoints.
The data raises concerns about Northeastern State University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score39/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate35.4% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period18.4 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Northeastern State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,810/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,290/yr |
| Average net price | $12,710/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $50,840 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,379 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,367 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $184 |
| Estimated payback period | 18.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 35.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,772 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Northeastern State University is $7,810/year ($17,290/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $12,710/year, or roughly $50,840 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $10,598/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,511/year.
The median graduate leaves with $17,367 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $184 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $45,379 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.52 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,598 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,827 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,612 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,188 |
| $110,001+ | $19,511 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $10,598 per year and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually pays less at $9,827 - a slight inversion likely reflecting state-grant interactions but not large enough to be alarming. Four-year cost for the lowest brackets is around $39,000-$42,000. Pell and Oklahoma's Promise scholarship help meaningfully, but the cost is still nontrivial for very-low-income families.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$110,000) pay $12,612 to $18,188 per year, with the $75,001-$110,000 bracket showing a sharp jump as institutional aid phases out. Four-year cost ranges from $50,000 to $73,000. The math works passably for students completing a strong major; for those who stop out, the debt-without-degree outcome dominates and the financial picture deteriorates fast.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households over $110,000 pay $19,511 per year - approximately $78,000 across four years. At this price point NSU costs more than the in-state numbers suggest, and high-income Oklahoma families would see better ROI at the University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State University, both of which post stronger completion and earnings outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Northeastern State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $46,102 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,651 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $41,705 | D |
| Teacher Education | $43,116 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $96,702 | B+ |
| Accounting | $65,781 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $44,064 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,268 | C |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $50,981 | C |
| Computer Science | $67,854 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is NSU's flagship outcome program. Median first-year earnings of $80,792 and four-year earnings of $96,702 are exceptional for a rural Oklahoma regional public, reflecting strong demand for RNs in Tulsa and Northwest Arkansas hospital systems. Median debt of $26,542 yields a 0.329 ratio and a B+ grade. With 74 graduates yearly the program is well-sized and one of the most reliable ROI plays in the entire NSU catalog.
Computer Science
Computer science produces 41 graduates per year with $67,854 four-year earnings and $23,374 of debt - a 0.344 ratio and B+ grade. Graduates feed into the Tulsa-area tech ecosystem and remote roles serving Texas and Arkansas employers. The CS pipeline at NSU is one of the strongest hidden-value plays among Oklahoma regional publics.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business administration is the largest professional program at 111 graduates yearly, with $43,690 first-year and $60,651 four-year earnings on $23,056 of debt. The 0.528 ratio earns a C+. Career outcomes cluster in regional Oklahoma corporate operations, retail and hospitality management, and tribal-government roles.
Research and Experimental Psychology
Research and experimental psychology is unexpectedly the largest single program by graduates (133 per year) - a striking concentration. First-year earnings of $32,440 and four-year earnings of $46,102 against $25,029 of debt produce a 0.772 ratio and D grade. The volume here is concerning: a substantial share of NSU graduates exit through a major whose bachelor's-only ROI is structurally weak. Graduate study is essentially required to make the math work.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal arts produces 97 graduates yearly with $31,794 first-year earnings on $30,582 of debt - a 0.962 ratio earning a D. Four-year earnings of $41,705 reflect mediocre wage growth. This is the program where NSU's value proposition breaks down hardest at the bachelor's level. Students should treat this track as a transfer or pre-graduate-school stepping stone, not a terminal credential.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 54.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 60.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 99.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 428-543 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 438-593 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-23 |
| Enrollment | 4,772 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 45.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,084 |
NSU is essentially open-access with a 99.6% admit rate. SAT mid-ranges of 428-543 Math and 438-593 Reading, plus ACT 18-23, indicate substantially under-prepared incoming cohorts compared to the national average. The combination of universal admission and the 35.4% completion rate is consistent with the data: NSU enrolls many students who lack the academic foundation to complete a four-year degree, and the institution does not currently bring those students through to graduation at high rates.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
NSU's natural peers are other regional Oklahoma publics. Cameron University in Lawton and University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond are the closest geographic and structural matches; UCO has notably stronger completion outcomes. Dalton State College in Georgia is a southern regional comparable. California State Polytechnic University Humboldt and Idaho State University are out-of-state regional publics with materially higher completion and earnings figures. Among this set NSU sits at the lower end on most metrics, reflecting its rural service area and very-low-selectivity entrance posture.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern State University (this school) | 39 | $12,710 | $45,379 |
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 44 | $13,171 | $47,626 |
| Dalton State College | 41 | $5,012 | $40,251 |
| Idaho State University | 38 | $12,193 | $45,608 |
| University of Central Oklahoma | 38 | $18,309 | $48,351 |
| Cameron University | 20 | $10,912 | $40,118 |
Who Thrives Here
NSU fits Oklahoma residents from rural northeastern Oklahoma, including a substantial Cherokee Nation population given the Tahlequah location. Pell rate is 45.1% and enrollment is 4,772, indicating a heavily working and first-generation student body. Outcomes are strongest for nursing, computer science, accounting, and clinical lab science graduates - all professional pipelines with regional Oklahoma employer demand. Students who arrive with a clear major and strong study habits can extract real value; students drifting through general liberal arts programs face stop-out risk.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Northeastern State University. With a net cost of $12,710 per year and median graduate earnings of only $45,379 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 18.4 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 35.4% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $17,367 against $45,379 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.