Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Oklahoma
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northeastern State University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma Wesleyan University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Oklahoma by graduate earnings. Northeastern State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $80,792, College Scorecard. University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and University of Central Oklahoma award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Oklahoma: 589, 282 and 222 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 30 Oklahoma colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 3,353 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern State University Tahlequah Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,792 | 58 | 35% | — | $26,542 |
| 2 | Southwestern Oklahoma State University Weatherford Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,846 | 282 | 40% | — | $24,027 |
| 3 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University Bartlesville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,090 | 26 | 35% | $26,671 | $31,589 |
| 4 | Oklahoma State University Stillwater Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,056 | 59 | 68% | — | $29,400 |
| 5 | University of Tulsa Tulsa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,029 | 78 | 72% | $23,470 | $30,125 |
| 6 | Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,980 | 162 | 65% | $22,589 | $27,093 |
| 7 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,438 | 222 | 37% | — | $26,375 |
| 8 | Oral Roberts University Tulsa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,417 | 62 | 57% | $23,543 | $29,500 |
| 9 | East Central University Ada Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,297 | 54 | 34% | — | $20,200 |
| 10 | University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,625 | 589 | — | — | $26,899 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connors State College Warner Public · Associate degree | $72,430 | 94 | 36% | — | $26,130 |
| 2 | Carl Albert State College Poteau Public · Associate degree | $69,264 | 50 | 43% | — | $13,625 |
| 3 | Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology Okmulgee Public · Associate degree | $69,065 | 73 | 42% | — | $21,475 |
| 4 | Western Oklahoma State College Altus Public · Associate degree | $60,489 | 51 | 31% | — | $23,000 |
| 5 | Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa Public · Associate degree | $57,846 | 64 | 48% | — | $18,131 |
| 6 | Rose State College Midwest City Public · Associate degree | $76,453 | 59 | 20% | — | $16,900 |
| 7 | Murray State College Tishomingo Public · Associate degree | $71,869 | 156 | 27% | — | $24,990 |
| 8 | Oklahoma City Community College Oklahoma City Public · Associate degree | $70,463 | 257 | 27% | — | $20,334 |
| 9 | Tulsa Community College Tulsa Public · Associate degree | $68,544 | 230 | 28% | — | $24,700 |
| 10 | Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Public · Associate degree | $68,070 | 125 | 15% | — | $21,565 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Oklahoma
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City Public | 589 | $70,625 |
| 2 | Southwestern Oklahoma State University Weatherford Public | 282 | $75,846 |
| 3 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond Public | 222 | $71,438 |
| 4 | Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City Private not-for-profit | 162 | $72,980 |
| 5 | Oklahoma Christian University Edmond Private not-for-profit | 128 | $69,180 |
| 6 | University of Tulsa Tulsa Private not-for-profit | 78 | $74,029 |
| 7 | Oral Roberts University Tulsa Private not-for-profit | 62 | $71,417 |
| 8 | Oklahoma State University Stillwater Public | 59 | $74,056 |
| 9 | Northeastern State University Tahlequah Public | 58 | $80,792 |
| 10 | East Central University Ada Public | 54 | $71,297 |
ShowHide the other 20 Oklahoma colleges offering Registered Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Community College | Oklahoma City | Public | 257 |
| Tulsa Community College | Tulsa | Public | 230 |
| Murray State College | Tishomingo | Public | 156 |
| Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City | Public | 125 |
| Rogers State University | Claremore | Public | 119 |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State University | Goodwell | Public | 108 |
| Connors State College | Warner | Public | 94 |
| Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology | Okmulgee | Public | 73 |
| Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College | Miami | Public | 65 |
| Northern Oklahoma College | Tonkawa | Public | 64 |
| Rose State College | Midwest City | Public | 59 |
| Northwestern Oklahoma State University | Alva | Public | 54 |
| Western Oklahoma State College | Altus | Public | 51 |
| Carl Albert State College | Poteau | Public | 50 |
| Eastern Oklahoma State College | Wilburton | Public | 41 |
| Oklahoma Wesleyan University | Bartlesville | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| Oklahoma Baptist University | Shawnee | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| Seminole State College | Seminole | Public | 26 |
| Langston University | Langston | Public | 22 |
| Redlands Community College | El Reno | Public | 13 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Oklahoma
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Oklahoma.
Which Oklahoma colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center (589 graduates a year), Southwestern Oklahoma State University (282 graduates a year) and University of Central Oklahoma (222 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Oklahoma, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 30 Oklahoma colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Oklahoma?+
By graduate earnings, Northeastern State University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Oklahoma, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $80,792, College Scorecard. Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma Wesleyan University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center is the largest, with 589 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Oklahoma has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northeastern State University tops the list at $80,792. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Oklahoma?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Oklahoma is $85,060 (median $82,920), across about 38,270 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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