Students at the University of Tulsa achieve exceptionally strong earnings outcomes that place the institution among the top performers nationally for long-term financial returns.
Graduates consistently earn more than peers at most other universities, with particularly strong results for students from low-income backgrounds who gain access to high-return engineering and technical programs.
The University of Tulsa is a selective private institution that delivers exceptionally strong earnings outcomes for its graduates. With median 10-year earnings of $61,408, Tulsa ranks in the 87th percentile nationally for long-term financial returns, placing it among the top-performing universities in the country for graduate earnings. The university's strength lies particularly in its engineering programs, where specialized fields like petroleum engineering and mechanical engineering produce graduates earning well above national averages.
As a medium-sized private university in Oklahoma, Tulsa serves a more selective student body, with about 26% of students receiving Pell Grants and 23% being first-generation college students. The university falls into the "Selective Achievers" mobility category, meaning it delivers strong outcomes for the students it enrolls, though access is more limited than at larger public institutions.
Tulsa's combination of specialized technical programs, strong industry connections in energy and engineering sectors, and solid graduation rates creates a focused educational environment that consistently produces graduates who command high salaries in their chosen fields. For students who can access this education, either through family resources or financial aid, the long-term return on investment is substantial.
The University of Tulsa's program portfolio is heavily concentrated in engineering disciplines that lead directly to high-paying careers. Petroleum Engineering, with 49 graduates annually, produces some of the highest early-career earnings at around $80,022, reflecting strong demand in the energy sector. Mechanical Engineering represents the largest engineering program with 73 graduates earning approximately $67,812, combining solid enrollment with strong financial outcomes to create the highest aggregate return among all programs.
Chemical Engineering rounds out the top-earning programs with graduates earning around $67,660, demonstrating consistent strength across multiple engineering disciplines. These three programs represent the core of Tulsa's academic identity and explain much of the university's exceptional earnings performance. The concentration in engineering fields creates a focused educational environment where students have clear pathways to well-defined career outcomes.
Tulsa's location in Oklahoma provides natural advantages for engineering graduates, particularly those in petroleum and chemical engineering who can access opportunities in the energy sector. The university's industry connections and specialized curriculum in these high-demand fields help explain why graduates consistently achieve earnings that place Tulsa among the top-performing universities nationally for long-term financial returns.
Graduates of the University of Tulsa achieve strong long-term earnings that place the institution in the top tier nationally. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $61,408, ranking in the 87th percentile among all universities for earnings outcomes. This performance reflects the university's focus on high-return fields, particularly engineering disciplines that connect directly to well-paying career paths in energy, manufacturing, and technology sectors.
The university's strongest financial outcomes come from its engineering programs, which dominate the highest-earning majors. Petroleum Engineering graduates, with 49 students in recent cohorts, earn around $80,022 early in their careers, representing some of the highest starting salaries available to new graduates. Mechanical Engineering, the program with the highest aggregate return due to its combination of strong enrollment and solid pay, graduates about 73 students annually who earn approximately $67,812. Chemical Engineering rounds out the top-earning programs with graduates earning around $67,660, demonstrating consistent strength across multiple engineering disciplines.
This concentration in engineering and technical fields helps explain Tulsa's exceptional earnings performance. The university's location in Oklahoma provides strong connections to the energy industry, while its engineering programs maintain relationships with major employers who recruit heavily from these specialized programs. The focused program portfolio creates clear pathways from classroom to career in fields where demand consistently exceeds supply.
Affordability at the University of Tulsa varies significantly by family income, as is typical for private universities. Low-income students pay a net price of about $17,809 annually, which represents substantial institutional aid that brings costs down from the full sticker price. Middle-income families face higher costs at around $23,340 per year, while high-income families pay approximately $30,755 annually, reflecting the university's need-based aid strategy that concentrates support on students with the greatest financial need.
Debt levels for Tulsa graduates are moderate relative to the strong earnings outcomes they achieve. Typical federal student loan debt is about $21,500, while families who choose Parent PLUS loans borrow an average of $25,000. These debt levels, while meaningful, are generally manageable given the university's strong earnings track record. The federal loan default rate is 0%, indicating that virtually all borrowers are able to meet their repayment obligations.
What makes Tulsa's pricing sustainable is the relationship between what families pay and what graduates ultimately earn. With median earnings of $61,408 ten years out, most graduates can comfortably service typical debt levels under standard repayment terms. The university's loan repayment data shows that borrowers are paying down balances at rates well above national averages, with strong performance across multiple years of tracking.
University Of Tulsa Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
