There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which grad school to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Oklahoma Colleges for a Master's ranking - to help you make that decision.
Our analysis looked at 17 grad schools in Oklahoma to determine which ones have the best master's degree programs. Our ranking for the best grad schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.
Better Early-Career Average Salaries
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. While master's degree recipients from schools in Oklahoma earn an average starting salary of $53,146, those from the top 16 school on this list made an average of $53,664.
Starting Salary ( 39264 to 62928 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that graduate students take on while they are working on their master's degree.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
Our Best Master's Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Are you more interested in the top master's degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. Also, you may want to check out our other college rankings.
Our 2024 rankings named University of Oklahoma Norman Campus the best grad school in Oklahoma in terms of overall quality for students working on their master’s degree. Norman, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,851 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,771 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 in Oklahoma on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the large public school awarded 939 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from OSU is $56,581 during the early years of their career.
The excellent master’s degree programs at University of Tulsa helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Oklahoma. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 220 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from University of Tulsa make an average of $81,530 a year.
A rank of #4 on our Best Master’s Degree in Oklahoma list means Oklahoma City University is a great place for students working on their degree. OCU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It awarded 223 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from OCU is $64,476 during the early years of their career.
The excellent master’s degree programs at Southern Nazarene University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Oklahoma. Bethany, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 239 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from SNU make an average of $50,932 per year during the early years of their career.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Oklahoma ranking. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a medium-sized public school located in Durant, Oklahoma that handed out 1,007 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $59,113 during the early years of their career.
Oklahoma Christian University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Oklahoma list. Edmond, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 180 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from OC make an average of $61,957 a year.
Oral Roberts University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Oklahoma ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 150 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from ORU go into careers with an average salary of $35,950 during the early years of their career.
Northeastern State University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Oklahoma ranking. NSU is a public institution located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 379 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from NSU make an average of $51,262 per year during the early years of their career.
University of Central Oklahoma ranked #10 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Oklahoma list. Edmond, Oklahoma is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 511 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,808 during the early years of their career.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Oklahoma ranking. Located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 64 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $70,876 during the early years of their career.
Mid-America Christian University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Oklahoma ranking. Located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 138 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from MACU make an average of $50,107 a year.
With a ranking of #13, East Central University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Oklahoma list. This small public school is located in Ada, Oklahoma, and it awarded 218 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from ECU go into careers with an average salary of $42,417 during the early years of their career.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Oklahoma ranking. SWOSU is a small public school situated in Weatherford, Oklahoma. It awarded 253 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from SWOSU make an average of $48,952 a year.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Oklahoma list. NWOSU is a public institution located in Alva, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 53 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from NWOSU make an average of $41,324 per year during the early years of their career.
Rogers State University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Oklahoma ranking. Located in Claremore, Oklahoma, the small public school awarded 16 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #17, Cameron University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Oklahoma list. Located in Lawton, Oklahoma, the small public school handed out 86 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Cameron University go into careers with an average salary of $45,567 during the early years of their career.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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