University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
Norman, Oklahoma · Public · 76.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 83/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Oklahoma's Norman Campus is the state's flagship public university, enrolling about 22,734 undergraduates. In-state tuition of $9,797 drops to a $15,300 average net price, with lowest-income students paying about $10,509. OU earns a Strong Value ROI score of 83, backed by a 75.3% graduation rate, a 7.2-year payback period, median six-year earnings of $48,600, and ten-year earnings of $63,126. The earnings premium of 46% over what students would have earned without a degree is among the highest in this dataset. OU's engineering, petroleum, and business programs are particularly strong performers, while the university's size - over 22,000 undergraduates - provides depth across disciplines rare at this price point. The Norman campus location in the Oklahoma City metro area connects students to meaningful internship pipelines across energy, aerospace, and financial sectors.
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,797/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,377/yr |
| Average net price | $15,300/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,200 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,126 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,654 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $219 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 75.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 22,734 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $9,797/year ($27,377/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $15,300/year, or roughly $61,200 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $10,509/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,986/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $20,654 in federal loans, which works out to about $219 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $63,126 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.42, comfortably manageable.
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 | $10,509 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,602 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,536 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,342 |
| $110,001+ | $20,986 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $10,509 - just above in-state tuition. At that entry cost, even median earnings produce a compelling ROI. OU's 75% graduation rate and strong repayment baseline suggest this is one of the more accessible flagship investments in the South-Central region for first-generation and low-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001 - $75,000 band pays $10,602 - $14,536. These net prices represent outstanding value at a flagship research university. Middle-income families should note the broad program variance; selecting a B+ or better ROI major is the key decision that determines whether the investment pays off on a 7-year or 15-year timeline.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Above $75,000, families pay $19,342 - $20,986. OU remains competitive against in-state and regional out-of-state options at these price points. Higher-income students from out of state should model the cost against peer public flagships and factor in OU's merit scholarship availability.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | $77,606 | B |
| Human Resources Management | $65,881 | C+ |
| Psychology | $56,458 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $106,719 | B+ |
| Genetics | $55,682 | D |
| Journalism | $54,031 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $65,474 | C |
| Accounting | $85,005 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $71,589 | D |
| Management Information Systems | $91,291 | 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.
Computer Science
Computer Science graduates 88 students with year-one earnings of $78,610 and $110,853 by year four - among the strongest program-level outcomes in this dataset. A 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio earns B+. At a $15,300 net price, OU CS delivers exceptional value for Oklahoma residents pursuing software careers.
Management Information Systems
MIS graduates 148 students earning $70,921 in year one and $91,291 at four years with a B+ grade and 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio. This is the largest high-ROI program at OU and benefits from strong employer demand in the Oklahoma City tech and financial-services market.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance produces 244 graduates - OU's most common measured program - with $66,904 in year one and $106,719 at four years. A 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio earns B+. OU's finance program represents one of the highest-volume, high-performing pipelines among all schools in this dataset.
Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Engineering graduates 23 students at $61,223 initially and $123,416 at four years - the highest four-year earnings figure at OU. The 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a B grade. Volatility in oil markets creates career-cycle risk not captured in this data, but the long-term pay trajectory for this field is exceptional.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration earns OU's only A-grade ROI, with $61,373 in year one, $88,953 at four years, and a remarkable 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio against just $15,000 median debt. This highly efficient program reflects both strong outcomes and low borrowing by its 25 measured graduates.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 76.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 560-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-29 |
| Enrollment | 22,734 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,610 |
OU accepts 77% of applicants. The middle 50% ACT range of 23 - 29 and SAT reading/math of 560 - 680 indicates solid but not elite selectivity. Oklahoma residents benefit substantially from the in-state price differential. Out-of-state students face $27,377 sticker tuition but often qualify for merit-based awards that partially close the gap.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Against peers University at Buffalo and University of Illinois Chicago, OU delivers a stronger earnings premium (46% vs. lower ranges at those schools) at a lower net price for in-state students. OU's 75.3% graduation rate is competitive with this peer set. The petroleum and aerospace engineering programs are national-caliber and differentiate OU from most peer flagships.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus (this school) | 83 | $15,300 | $63,126 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | 85 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| University of California-Riverside | 83 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| University at Buffalo | 83 | $20,995 | $70,814 |
| University of Central Oklahoma | 38 | $18,309 | $48,351 |
| Cameron University | 20 | $10,912 | $40,118 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
OU is well-suited to a wide range of students given its open-to-moderate admissions and strong institutional value. Engineering and business candidates with ACT scores of 23 - 29 can access programs with documented $70,000 - $110,000 four-year earnings. Students interested in arts, humanities, or social sciences should research program-level outcomes carefully, as ROI grades range from A (business administration) to F (English, dance). OU's size supports robust career services, Greek life, and a strong alumni network in the energy sector.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus pays off. You'd pay about $15,300 a year after aid ($61,200 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $63,126 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7.2 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 75.3% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $20,654 against $63,126 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.