NWOSU vs. OU

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, OK with University of Oklahoma Norman Campus in Norman, OK on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is larger than NWOSU based on total student enrollment (30,851 students vs. 2,079 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwestern Oklahoma State University is located in Alva, OK (Remote Town setting); University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is in Norman, OK (Small Suburban setting).
• Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern Oklahoma State University 15:1; University of Oklahoma Norman Campus 18:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern Oklahoma State University are 58% lower than at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($5,720 vs. $13,630).
• Out-of-state tuition is 134.7% higher at OU than at Northwestern Oklahoma State University (about $15,713 more per year; $27,377 vs. $11,664).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than at Northwestern Oklahoma State University (99% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students is 26% larger than aid received by Northwestern Oklahoma State University students ($11,356 vs. $9,011).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 8 points higher at OU than at NWOSU (26 vs. 18, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are required at NWOSU, test optional at OU.
• Typical fall application deadline: OU Feb 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at OU average a 3.66 high school GPA, 0.24 higher than at NWOSU (3.42).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.7% at NWOSU vs. 29.3% at OU.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwestern Oklahoma State University graduates have a $5,685 lower median loan debt than OU graduates ($14,315 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, NWOSU graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OU graduates ($148 vs. $206).
• More OU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NWOSU students, three years after graduation (68% vs. 55%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.