Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Southeastern Oklahoma State University #383 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Southeastern Oklahoma State University sits in the 57.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Southeastern Oklahoma State University #61 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Southeastern Oklahoma State University's composite standing reflects a consistent pattern: graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions relative to similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that the university's outcomes hold up well against its peer group. Affordability reinforces that picture — the university's post-graduation affordability ranking places it among the stronger performers in the nonprofit four-year institutions for keeping debt manageable relative to what graduates earn.
Azimuth ranks Southeastern Oklahoma State University #383 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Durant, OK, Southeastern Oklahoma State University enrolls roughly 3,018 undergraduates. Freshman retention runs at 63.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 31.5%, figures that reflect the institution's commitment to moving students through to degree completion. The composite is anchored by what Southeastern Oklahoma State University delivers for its students relative to comparable institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the 57.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $56,329, a figure that reflects the regional labor market in OK and the institution's concentration in Business — the dominant program family — alongside a student body where 41.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 44.5% are first-generation college students. Azimuth ranks Southeastern Oklahoma State University #935 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability round out the composite picture. Southeastern Oklahoma State University sits in the 74.0 percentile for access and the 95.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 51.9 percentile. The institution admits 76.4% of applicants, reflecting a broad-access posture that keeps the door open for students from a wide range of backgrounds — a meaningful factor given the high share of Pell-eligible and first-generation undergraduates it serves.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University's published cost of attendance is $18,594. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $5,193, middle-income families pay around $8,247, and higher-income families pay approximately $13,570. Azimuth ranks Southeastern Oklahoma State University #61 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Southeastern Oklahoma State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state financial aid programs. The institution's need-based aid structure helps close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay, though the spread across income bands reflects a regional public university's aid capacity. Families applying for aid use the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $17,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,095; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,329, median federal debt of $17,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $192 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a strong fit for students from Oklahoma and the surrounding region who want an affordable, career-oriented path anchored in Business and related applied fields — particularly those from low-income or first-generation backgrounds who need a broadly accessible institution with manageable costs. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,329, placing Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the 31.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the 57.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad. 41.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 44.5% are first-generation college students — figures that reflect the university's role as a regional access institution in OK. Southeastern Oklahoma State University sits in the 25.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon — and median student debt at graduation is $17,000, keeping the borrowing burden relatively contained for a regional public university. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and applied professional fields, so students whose interests fall outside those areas may find fewer specialized options, and the regional labor-market orientation means graduates who plan to work locally in OK will find the strongest alignment between their degree and available opportunities.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Southeastern Oklahoma State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
8 graduates
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
70 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
18 graduates
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
46 graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
81 graduates
Southeastern Oklahoma State University's program mix is anchored in Business, with additional concentration in Education and Arts — a portfolio shaped by the university's regional identity as a public institution serving south-central Oklahoma. General Studies, Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods are among the most-enrolled programs, together reflecting the institution's applied, workforce-oriented character.
Across 22 programs serving roughly 560 students annually, 12 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians anchors the institution's strongest aggregate return, combining meaningful cohort scale with competitive median earnings four years after enrollment — the combination that drives the most economic output for graduates in aggregate.
Azimuth ranks Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians #8 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with a cohort of 70 graduates earning $66,785. Azimuth ranks Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods #62 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 46 graduates earning $53,029 — a result that reflects the applied focus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University's business and professional programs.
These rankings are explained further in [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The institution's highest-earning programs cluster in applied professional fields where graduates enter the workforce directly rather than continuing to graduate school, making four-year earnings a reliable signal of labor-market outcomes.
The General Studies program graduates 81 students with median earnings of $52,418, and the The Criminal Justice program graduates 22 students earning $51,523 four years after enrollment. Business accounts for 20% of degree output, reinforcing the institution's orientation toward stable, regionally relevant career pathways.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with broader labor-market trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Idaho Similar quality tier (#15303 ranked) | ID | 76% | $54,670 | #15303 | Compare |
University Of Northern Iowa Similar quality tier (#15300 ranked) | IA | 93% | $55,177 | #15300 | Compare |
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana Similar quality tier in Southwest (#15310 ranked) | LA | 93% | $47,021 | #15310 | Compare |
Columbus State University Similar quality tier (#15313 ranked) | GA | 99% | $44,544 | #15313 | Compare |
Virginia Military Institute Similar quality tier (#15316 ranked) | VA | 71% | $77,369 | #15316 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University's published cost of attendance is $18,594. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $5,193, middle-income families pay around $8,247, and higher-income families pay approximately $13,570.
Azimuth ranks Southeastern Oklahoma State University #61 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Southeastern Oklahoma State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state financial aid programs. The institution's need-based aid structure helps close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay, though the spread across income bands reflects a regional public university's aid capacity.
Families applying for aid use the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $17,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,095; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,329, median federal debt of $17,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $192 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,329, placing Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the 31.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the 57.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Southeastern Oklahoma State University #935 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to OK's no-degree earnings baseline of $30,928, the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern at Southeastern Oklahoma State University is anchored in Business, which drives the bulk of graduate outcomes. Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians stands out as the highest aggregate-return major, combining enrollment scale with solid four-year earnings.
Among the most-enrolled programs, General Studies program graduates 81 students with median four-year earnings of $52,418, and Azimuth ranks the program #42 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods round out the core of the degree portfolio, with 70 and 46 graduates respectively.
The On the higher-earning end, Psychology, General program graduates 34 students and delivers median four-year earnings of $35,428, with Azimuth ranking the program #348 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
