Best Online Colleges in Oklahoma

The first college in Oklahoma opened its doors in 1880, and by 1910 — just a few years after gaining statehood — the Sooner State had 12 secondary schools and colleges. Oklahoma is now home to 64 colleges, universities, and campuses across its regions, with nearly 40% clustered in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metropolitan areas.

Continue exploring this guide to learn more about the state’s career landscape, popular cities with online colleges, and state resources for students. Also, browse the list of top online colleges in Oklahoma to compare the state’s best options.

Accreditation demonstrates the legitimacy of your education by ensuring that colleges meet strict academic standards. To qualify for federal financial aid, you must attend an accredited school.

Attending an accredited college also ensures your degree and credits will be recognized if you apply for graduate programs or transfer to other schools.

Most online colleges in Oklahoma are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Programs in professional fields like nursing, law, and education should also have programmatic accreditation, which ensures you qualify for state licensure.

In 2021-2022, the average cost of in-state tuition and fees at public four-year Oklahoma colleges was $8,291, according to NCES data.

That same year, average out-of-state tuition and fees were $22,125, while private four-year tuition and fees reached an even higher $30,175.

You can qualify for federal grants and loans to save money by submitting the FAFSA. You can also apply for external scholarships. Some Oklahoma online colleges offer in-state tuition discounts to all online students, regardless of their location.

Oklahoma is home to robust manufacturing and energy industries. Jobs like wind turbine service technician and computer numerically controlled tool programmer are currently experiencing high demand in the state, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Jobs in healthcare and health and wellness are also seeing high demand, with nurse practitioners and fitness trainers receiving projected job growth rates of higher than 40% from 2020-2030.

As the state’s most populous cities, Tulsa and Oklahoma City are hubs for online schools in Oklahoma.

Students attending online colleges in Oklahoma can find information about college prep, career planning, and financial aid on this site. OKcollegestart offers various resources for middle and high school students, college students, and adult learners.

This federally funded program helps Oklahoma students and their families prepare for college. The site offers mentoring, tutoring, ACT prep, and college exploration resources.

This government entity provides information about Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities, financial aid options, degrees, and overall state of higher education.

This nonprofit offers student loan management, financial aid information, and college access services to prospective students in Oklahoma.

OneNet serves the state’s largest colleges and universities as a digital initiative of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. This network also improves broadband access in rural Oklahoma.

According to NCES data, Oklahoma is home to a total of 105 colleges and universities. This number includes one tribal college — College of the Muscogee Nation — and one historically Black college: Langston University.

Yes, Oklahoma State University offers online degrees through OSU Online. Online majors include psychology, finance, elementary education, and computer science. You can also tailor your education to your unique learning and career goals by majoring in multidisciplinary studies.

One of the more selective colleges in Oklahoma is Oklahoma Wesleyan University, which had an acceptance rate of 52% in fall 2022, according to NCES. Other competitive colleges in Oklahoma include Oklahoma Baptist University (47% acceptance rate) and Northwestern Oklahoma State University (56% acceptance rate).

According to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, you must live in Oklahoma for 12 consecutive months and intend to remain in the state for Oklahoma residency and in-state tuition.

The best online school in Oklahoma for you depends on your goals and interests. Factors to consider include career services, student retention, and free software licenses for enrolled students. Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City, for example, offers free Microsoft software to online students, and the University of Oklahoma holds virtual writing center appointments.