Northeastern State University — College Profile

About

Northeastern State University (NSU) in Tahlequah is widely recognized for its deep-rooted connection to the Cherokee Nation and its proud status as a premier institution for Native American heritage. Academically, NSU shines through its historic College of Education and its highly prestigious Oklahoma College of Optometry, which is one of only 23 such programs in the nation. The student experience is defined by a close-knit, welcoming campus culture enriched by active student organizations and abundant outdoor recreation in the scenic Ozark foothills and nearby Illinois River. This distinctive combination of rich cultural history, specialized professional degrees, and a vibrant, nature-oriented community makes NSU an exceptional place to launch your future.

Wikipedia:Northeastern State University is a public university whose main campus is in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The university also has campuses in Muskogee and Broken Arrow. Northeastern is Oklahoma's oldest institution of higher learning and one of the oldest west of the Mississippi River. Tahlequah is home to the capital of the Cherokee Nation and about 25% of NSU students identify themselves as American Indian. The university has many courses focused on Native American linguistics, and offers Cherokee language education as a major. Some classes are taught in Cherokee for first language speakers.

Location

Tahlequah, OK, 74464-2399 · Town campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

MCI · Kansas City

234 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$7,810$17,290

Housing & food (on campus)$11,120$11,120

Books & supplies$1,000$1,000

Cost of attendance$21,551$31,031 est.

Average net price$12,710Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$17,290

In-state: $7,810

Housing & food (on campus)$11,120

Books & supplies$1,000

Cost of attendance$31,031 est.

In-state: $21,551

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $12,710

est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$10,598

$30–48k

$9,827

$48–75k

$12,612

$75–110k

$18,188

$110k+

$19,511

Your family's actual price → Northeastern State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

36%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

21%

Back for yr 2

61%

Transferred

23%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

40% graduated · 23% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 36% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$41,207

10 yrs after entry$45,379

Debt

Median at graduation$17,367

Monthly payment$184

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$22.6k

90th percentile$32,304

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

100%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1049

R 438–593 · M 428–543

ACT midpoint

Comp 18–23 · E 16–23 · M 16–22

SAT middle 50%: 866–1136

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Northeastern State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 38%Women 62%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

16 : 1

Pell grant

45%

First-gen

42%

Family income

$30,816

Independent

42%

Veterans

Age at entry

24.0

Part-time

24%

Race & ethnicity

White

40%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

15%

Non-resident

AI/AN

21%

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division II with football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$41,207

After 10 yrs

$45,379

Research and Experimental Psychology133

Business Administration, Management and Operations111

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities97

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods88

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing74

Accounting and Related Services74

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness56

Criminal Justice and Corrections55

Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences47

Computer Science41

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas39

Social Work32

Marketing31

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other30

Finance and Financial Management Services28

Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians24

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$45M

Full-time faculty

74%

Faculty salary

$8,084/mo

Teaching spend

$11,563

per student

Federal loans

36%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (larger programs)

Undergraduate profile