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, average six-year earnings of $48,600, and median ten-year earnings of $63,126. The earnings premium over what students would have earned without a degree is 46%. 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 11% of the schools we score, 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 |
| Average 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), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $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.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,654, which works out to about $219 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($48,600) and comes to 0.42, which in our view is 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.
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.
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. 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+.
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 | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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 is 23 - 29 and SAT reading/math is 560 - 680. 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.
| 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 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus: Common Questions
Is University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus pays off. It scores 83/100 on our ROI scale. 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, so the cost takes roughly 7.2 years to earn back.
How much does University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $15,300 a year, or roughly $61,200 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $63,126 ten years after enrolling, roughly $21,326 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.2 years for University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,654, against average earnings of $48,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 75.3%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.