University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma · Private Nonprofit · 61.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 83/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Tulsa scores an 83 (Strong Value). The net price of $15,000 tells a different story than the sticker: Tulsa deploys substantial merit and need aid, and the effective cost for most families is well below list price. Petroleum Engineering (20 graduates, $145,353 four-year earnings) is the standout outlier in the program mix - no other program comes close on four-year earnings. Computer Science (51 graduates, $73,787 year-one) and Nursing (39 graduates, $74,029 year-one) are the next-strongest anchors. The completion rate of 72.3% is the main weakness: more than a quarter of enrolled students do not graduate. Tulsa's location in the Tulsa-Oklahoma energy sector creates specific placement advantages for petroleum and chemical engineering graduates that are invisible to national rankings.
University of Tulsa scores in the top 11% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Tulsa
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $50,061/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $50,061/yr |
| Average net price | $15,000/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $60,000 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,408 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $50,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 72.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,813 |
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: $50,061/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $15,000/year, or roughly $60,000 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 $5,578/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,473/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,500, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($50,400) and comes to 0.43, 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 | $5,578 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,616 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,871 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,579 |
| $110,001+ | $25,473 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $5,578 per year. At roughly $22,000 over four years total, low-income students who attend Tulsa and enter technical majors are making a good private-school bet. The 72.3% completion rate is the primary risk: students who do not finish lose the investment.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $8,616 and the 48,001-75,000 bracket pays $10,871. The 75,001-110,000 bracket rises to $18,579. A family earning $80,000 and paying $18,579 per year at Tulsa is getting a private university experience at a near-public price point.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $25,473 per year. Over four years that is roughly $102,000. Against a 7.6-year payback and $50,400 average 6-year earnings, this is a reasonable investment for students entering technical programs. Students in business administration ($45,038 year-one) or communications ($27,612 year-one) face a much longer effective payback against $25,000/year in annual cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Tulsa with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $109,332 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $63,485 | - |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,225 | B+ |
| Registered Nursing | $82,510 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,026 | C |
| Management Information Systems | $100,887 | B |
| Accounting | $85,233 | B+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $97,533 | B+ |
| Chemical Engineering | $101,626 | - |
| Petroleum Engineering | $145,353 | A |
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.
Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Engineering (20 graduates) earns a median $145,353 at four years - by far the highest program-level figure at Tulsa. Year-one earnings are not reported in the Scorecard. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.186 (ROI grade A) and $27,000 median debt show strong efficiency. Graduates enter exploration, production, reservoir engineering, and energy consultancy roles. At $145,353 four-year earnings, the $27,000 debt load is a modest fraction of first-year pay beyond the one-year window.
Computer Science
Computer Science (51 graduates) earns $73,787 at year one and $109,332 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.291 (ROI grade B+) and $21,500 median debt are reasonable. Tulsa CS graduates enter technology roles in the Tulsa metro, Oklahoma City, and Texas tech markets. The four-year crossing of $100k reflects advancement into senior developer and technical lead roles. For a private school with a $15,000 average net price, CS graduates are generating a strong personal return - year-one earnings of $73,787 against $21,500 in debt is a favorable ratio.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (39 graduates) earns $74,029 at year one and $82,510 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.407 (ROI grade B) with $30,125 median debt, above the institutional average. The year-one earnings are strong given the regional nursing demand in Oklahoma's healthcare system. The four-year figure ($82,510) reflects experienced RN and possible advanced-practice transitions. At a $15,000 average net price, the debt-to-earnings ratio is somewhat high because borrowing is occurring beyond just tuition.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (46 graduates) earns $70,220 at year one and $91,225 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.278 (ROI grade B+) and $19,500 median debt are efficient. ME graduates from Tulsa enter energy-sector manufacturing, defense, and industrial engineering roles with a regional emphasis in the Tulsa-Oklahoma energy corridor. The four-year figure ($91,225) reflects strong advancement in technical engineering roles. The relatively low debt ($19,500) against a $15,000 net price suggests many ME students are benefiting from merit scholarship packages.
Accounting
Accounting (30 graduates) earns $85,233 at four years with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.270 (ROI grade B+) and $23,000 median debt. Year-one earnings are not available in the Scorecard. The four-year figure ($85,233) is strong for regional public accounting and corporate finance in the Tulsa market. Tulsa's business school benefits from proximity to major energy companies that need accountants with industry knowledge - a specific local advantage that regional accounting programs can offer that national programs cannot replicate.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Tulsa’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 | 61.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 613-770 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 610-760 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-34 |
| Enrollment | 2,813 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,082 |
Tulsa admits 61.5% of applicants - moderately selective, not competitive. SAT Math 613-770 shows a wide range that includes students from very strong to average academic profiles. ACT 25-34 reflects the same breadth.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Tulsa (this school) | 83 | $15,000 | $61,408 |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | 89 | $22,453 | $89,070 |
| Bryant University | 84 | $41,219 | $90,008 |
| Drake University | 81 | $29,127 | $71,901 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 51 | $28,358 | $59,841 |
Who Thrives Here
Tulsa admits 61.5% of applicants with a wide SAT band (613-770 Math, 610-760 Reading; ACT 25-34), reflecting a school that takes a range of academic preparation levels. Students who thrive bring either a clear technical major (petroleum engineering, CS, mechanical engineering) or strong pre-health intentions (nursing). Students without a defined major entering lower-earning fields face a 7.6-year payback at the net price.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Tulsa pays off. You'd pay about $15,000 a year after aid ($60,000 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $61,408 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7.6 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 72.3% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $21,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $50,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43, 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 Tulsa: Common Questions
Is University of Tulsa worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Tulsa pays off. It scores 83/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $15,000 a year after aid ($60,000 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $61,408 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 7.6 years to earn back.
How much does University of Tulsa 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 $15,000 a year, or roughly $60,000 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 Tulsa graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $61,408 ten years after enrolling, roughly $19,608 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 Tulsa?
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 7.6 years for University of Tulsa. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Tulsa graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,500, against average earnings of $50,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43. 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 Tulsa?
The six-year graduation rate is 72.3%, 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.