Oklahoma has around 15 colleges producing BSN graduates, from its flagship universities to Christian colleges in Tulsa and the Oklahoma City area. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top 5.
Imagine you want to train as a nurse in Oklahoma, a state with many rural communities and a growing need for nurses. You could choose a large public university, a health sciences centre or a smaller faith-based college. Here is how they compare.
How we ranked these schools
We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in Oklahoma that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.
Oklahoma nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | Stillwater | Public | 69% | 33 | $85,196 | $10,444 |
| 2 | University of Tulsa | Tulsa | Private nonprofit | 69% | 33 | $76,788 | $52,566 |
| 3 | Oklahoma Christian University | Edmond | Private nonprofit | 63% | 130 | $76,084 | $28,200 |
| 4 | Oklahoma City University | Oklahoma City | Private nonprofit | 56% | 95 | $78,640 | $35,648 |
| 5 | Oral Roberts University | Tulsa | Private nonprofit | 55% | 60 | $74,223 | $37,350 |
| 6 | Oklahoma Baptist University | Shawnee | Private nonprofit | 52% | 40 | $76,660 | $37,330 |
| 7 | Southwestern Oklahoma State University | Weatherford | Public | 46% | 242 | $78,681 | $8,683 |
| 8 | Northeastern State University | Tahlequah | Public | 37% | 58 | $82,957 | $8,041 |
| 9 | University of Central Oklahoma | Edmond | Public | 36% | 164 | $71,943 | $9,043 |
| 10 | Northwestern Oklahoma State University | Alva | Public | 35% | 36 | n/a | $6,516 |
| 11 | Rogers State University | Claremore | Public | 30% | 77 | $78,663 | $7,750 |
| 12 | East Central University | Ada | Public | 28% | 50 | $82,864 | $8,332 |
| 13 | Langston University | Langston | Public | 19% | 58 | $71,428 | $7,138 |
| 14 | Oklahoma Panhandle State University | Goodwell | Public | 17% | 134 | $82,386 | $8,090 |
Also offering a BSN in Oklahoma (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):
| College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center | Oklahoma City | Public | n/a | 456 | $77,215 | n/a |
Top Oklahoma nursing schools reviewed
1. Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Oklahoma State University in Stillwater is the state’s land-grant university and offers a BSN, giving students a large-campus experience with nursing training.
- Graduation rate: 69%, number 1 in Oklahoma on our list
- Programme size: about 33 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $85,196 one year after graduating
- Cost: $10,444 in-state tuition ($25,964 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 75%
2. University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private research university with a nursing programme in its health sciences offerings, in Oklahoma’s second-largest city.
- Graduation rate: 69%, number 2 in Oklahoma on our list
- Programme size: about 33 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $76,788 one year after graduating
- Cost: $52,566 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 62%
3. Oklahoma Christian University
Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, near Oklahoma City, is a private Christian university with a sizeable BSN programme.
- Graduation rate: 63%, number 3 in Oklahoma on our list
- Programme size: about 130 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $76,084 one year after graduating
- Cost: $28,200 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 97%
4. Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University is a private Methodist-affiliated university whose Kramer School of Nursing is one of the established nursing schools in the state capital.
- Graduation rate: 56%, number 4 in Oklahoma on our list
- Programme size: about 95 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $78,640 one year after graduating
- Cost: $35,648 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 77%
5. Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University in Tulsa is a private Christian university offering a BSN through its Anna Vaughn College of Nursing.
- Graduation rate: 55%, number 5 in Oklahoma on our list
- Programme size: about 60 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $74,223 one year after graduating
- Cost: $37,350 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 99%
Studying nursing in Oklahoma: what to know
Oklahoma has a large rural population and many smaller hospitals and clinics outside Oklahoma City and Tulsa, so nurses who are willing to work in rural areas are in particular demand. The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is the state’s largest producer of BSN graduates, though it mainly admits students after prerequisite study elsewhere. Many students in Oklahoma start at regional public universities or community colleges and later complete a BSN, and hospitals across the state offer new graduate residency programmes and tuition assistance.
Ways to become a registered nurse in Oklahoma
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
- Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
- Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.
Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. Oklahoma is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence lets you practise in other compact states.
Frequently asked questions
How many colleges in Oklahoma offer a BSN?
Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 15 colleges in Oklahoma produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 1,666 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.
Which Oklahoma nursing school has the highest graduation rate?
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 69%.
Which is the largest nursing programme in Oklahoma?
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 456 a year.
How much do new BSN graduates earn in Oklahoma?
Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $71,428 to $85,196, with a typical (median) figure of about $77,928. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.
How much does a public nursing degree cost in Oklahoma?
In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $6,516 to $10,444 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- NCLEX pass rates: the Oklahoma Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
- Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
- Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
- Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
- Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.
Your next step: Shortlist three schools from the table, then check each programme’s NCLEX pass rate on the Oklahoma Board of Nursing website before you apply.
Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school
Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), Oklahoma Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.
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