Northeastern State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. It enrolls 4,772 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes11
Value76
Affordability81
Selectivity7
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 99.6%, Northeastern State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
99.6%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
866 – 1136
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 23
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Northeastern State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
0.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Northeastern State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,710 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,710
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
45%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
36%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$7,810
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$17,290
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,120
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,854
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,112
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,162
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,551
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,598
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,827
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,612
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,188
Over $110,000
$19,511
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$17,367Medianpercentile
$22,60975%percentile
$32,30490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,736
↓ $4,631
No Pell $9,909
↓ $7,458
Dependent students $10,517
↓ $6,850
Independent students $13,750
↓ $3,617
Female students $12,500
↓ $4,867
Male students $11,000
↓ $6,367
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($17,367), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
45% of full-time students who enrolled at Northeastern State University graduate within six years, and 62% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
45%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
62%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northeastern State University earn a median of $45,379 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,379
Earning > $25K
73%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,000, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Northeastern State University is home to 4,772 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 42% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,772
Part-Time
24%
First-Generation
42%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 40.5%1,932
Other 37.0%1,767
Hispanic 8.8%419
Black 4.9%234
International 3.9%186
Asian 2.6%124
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Northeastern State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteTahlequah, Oklahoma
Housing
Partly residential1,194 beds available
Adult Learners
31%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Northeastern State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
77 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northeastern State University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,217
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$26M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$72,446
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
268 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
70
26%
$86,843
Associate Professors
64
24%
$73,694
Assistant Professors
107
40%
$67,507
Instructors
25
9%
$52,377
Lecturers
2
1%
$43,745
Pros & Cons of Northeastern State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northeastern State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Northeastern State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Northeastern State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northeastern State University.
Is Northeastern State University hard to get into?
Northeastern State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 99.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Northeastern State University?
Northeastern State University has an acceptance rate of 99.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Northeastern State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Northeastern State University scored between 866 and 1136 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Northeastern State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Northeastern State University scored between 18 and 23 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Northeastern State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Northeastern State University is $12,710 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northeastern State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,379 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,710 per year. That's roughly 3.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Northeastern State University known for?
Northeastern State University is best known for its programs in Experimental Psychology, Business Administration, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Northeastern State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Northeastern State University are $45,379, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Northeastern State University accredited?
Yes. Northeastern State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Northeastern State University?
Northeastern State University enrolls 4,772 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Northeastern State University?
Northeastern State University graduates 45% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Northeastern State University a public or private college?
Northeastern State University is a Public institution.
Where is Northeastern State University located?
Northeastern State University is located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
What programs does Northeastern State University offer?
Northeastern State University offers 77 distinct programs. The most popular include Experimental Psychology, Business Administration, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northeastern State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northeastern State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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