Oral Roberts University
Tulsa, Oklahoma · Private Nonprofit · 98.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 29/100 · Poor Value
Oral Roberts University, a charismatic Christian university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, scores 29 out of 100 on CampusROI and sits in the Poor Value tier. Sticker tuition is $35,470 and the average net price is $25,365, putting four-year total cost at about $101,460. The six-year completion rate of 56.8% is solid for a small private. Median earnings six years out are $33,600 climbing to $46,885 by year ten. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.804 debt-to-earnings ratio and a 20.3-year payback period. Repayment progress declines noticeably over time: 75% making progress at year three drops to 70% at year seven, indicating a meaningful share of borrowers move into deferment or restructured plans. The school's bright spots are its nursing and engineering pipelines, both posting B-level ROI grades with strong earnings. The drags are the ministry, theology, and pastoral-counseling programs where graduates earn modestly while borrowing aggressively, producing the F ROI grades that pull down the institutional average. The financial profile is consistent with a school whose mission produces strong outcomes in professional fields and structurally weak outcomes in ministry tracks.
The data raises concerns about Oral Roberts University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score29/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period20.3 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Oral Roberts University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,470/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,470/yr |
| Average net price | $25,365/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $101,460 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,885 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,487 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Oral Roberts University is $35,470/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $25,365/year, or roughly $101,460 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $21,894/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,514/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $46,885 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.80 - 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 | $21,894 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,022 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,902 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,269 |
| $110,001+ | $30,514 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $21,894 per year. Four years totals about $87,600 against $46,885 in ten-year median earnings. Pell-eligible students should compare against Oklahoma State or University of Oklahoma, where Oklahoma's Promise scholarship plus Pell can substantially close the cost gap. The math at this bracket is genuinely difficult for ministry-track students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets are remarkably flat: $22,022 ($30,001-$48,000), $22,902 ($48,001-$75,000), then a step up to $27,269 ($75,001-$110,000). The flat low-and-middle bracket pattern suggests institutional aid plateaus quickly, with merit aid driving most of the differentiation rather than need-based discounting. Middle-income families should pressure-test their specific offer.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $30,514 a year, or roughly $122,100 over four years. With ten-year median earnings of $46,885 across all majors, that math only works for full-pay families committed to the school's mission, or for students entering nursing or engineering where program-level earnings clear $79,000 by year four.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Oral Roberts University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $58,754 | D |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | $45,360 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $79,547 | B |
| Psychology | $49,447 | D |
| Teacher Education | $44,177 | C |
| Marketing | $65,210 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $46,214 | D |
| Biology | $29,582 | D |
| Engineering, General | $84,649 | B |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | $36,493 | F |
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 the strongest program by ROI, graduating 42 students with $71,417 in first-year earnings climbing to $79,547 by year four against $29,500 in median debt. The 0.413 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a B ROI grade. Tulsa and broader Oklahoma have persistent nursing shortages, and ORU's BSN graduates find immediate placement in St. Francis, Saint Francis, and Hillcrest health systems. This is one of the most defensible four-year choices on campus.
Engineering, General
Engineering graduates 17 students with $66,805 in first-year earnings rising to $84,649 by year four against $26,917 in median debt. The 0.403 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a B ROI grade. Oklahoma's oil-and-gas employer base (along with aerospace at Tinker AFB and adjacent industries) absorbs ORU engineering graduates well. The small cohort means program-level figures are sensitive to year-to-year variation.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest documented program with 63 graduates. First-year earnings of $37,748 rise to $58,754 by year four against $28,137 in median debt. The 0.745 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D ROI grade. The four-year earnings figure is respectable for Tulsa but the first-year ramp is slow, and the debt load is on the higher end. Students should aggressively pursue Tulsa and Dallas-area internships to accelerate placement.
Theological and Ministerial Studies
Theological Studies graduates 51 students, one of the larger programs by volume, with $27,088 in first-year earnings rising to $45,360 by year four against $30,750 in median debt. The 1.135 debt-to-earnings ratio earns an F ROI grade. The financial math is structurally weak by design: graduates predominantly enter ministry, missions, and church staff roles where wages are intentionally modest. Students passionate about this calling should minimize borrowing through home-church support, denominational scholarships, and savings.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 34 students with $29,474 in first-year earnings rising to $49,447 by year four against $27,000 in median debt. The 0.916 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D ROI grade. As at most schools, bachelor's psychology pays back only through funded graduate work in counseling, social work, or applied psychology. ORU's pre-counseling track is reasonable preparation for those graduate paths, but students should commit to the next step before enrolling.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 66.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 98.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-28 |
| Enrollment | 3,487 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,834 |
Oral Roberts admits 98.9% of applicants, effectively open admission. SAT mid-ranges are 540-650 Math and 580-660 Reading, with ACT Composite of 22-28. Those scores are at or above national medians, which is notable given the open admit rate; ORU attracts academically prepared students despite minimal selectivity. The 98.9% admit rate paired with a 56.8% completion rate is actually a relatively favorable spread: the school admits broadly but completes its students at an above-average rate for the access tier.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers in the CampusROI dataset include Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Southern Nazarene University, Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico, Davenport University, and Indiana Institute of Technology College of Professional Studies. Within the small Christian university cohort, Oklahoma Wesleyan and Southern Nazarene are the closest peers and track similarly on outcomes. ORU's nursing and engineering programs lift its program-level distribution above what the other Oklahoma Christian schools post. Davenport, a workforce-oriented private, posts comparable overall ROI but with very different program mix.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Roberts University (this school) | 29 | $25,365 | $46,885 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 51 | $28,358 | $59,841 |
| Davenport University | 28 | $17,707 | $45,099 |
| Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico | 27 | $17,540 | $47,540 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies | 24 | $20,473 | $47,327 |
Who Thrives Here
ORU enrolls 3,487 students with a Pell rate of 28.4%, drawing nationally from charismatic Christian families and internationally as well. The right fit is a student deeply aligned with the school's Pentecostal/charismatic mission who is targeting nursing, engineering, marketing, or pre-med, and who can secure substantial institutional merit aid. Students pursuing ministry or theological studies should plan for low post-graduate earnings consistent with mission work and minimize borrowing. The mission-versus-finance tradeoff is more explicit here than at most schools.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Oral Roberts University. With a net cost of $25,365 per year and median graduate earnings of only $46,885 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 20.3 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 against $46,885 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.