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Northeastern State University

NSU

Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74464-2399

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeRuralPublicBusiness Focus

Known for business — excellent value

Northeastern State University is a public institution in Tahlequah with particular strength in business and health sciences. With an average SAT of 1050, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 4.6K undergraduates with a 17:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

37% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $45,379 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $11,800.

Established
1909
Motto
ᎦᏟᏐᏗ. ᎢᏅ ᎠᎾᎩᏍᏗ.
Mascot
Rowdy the RiverHawk
Type
Public university
Division
Division II

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

99%Acceptance
1050SAT Avg
4,636Students
17:1Student:Faculty
37%Grad Rate
$45,379Earnings 10yr
$11,800Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Northeastern State University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate99.2%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1050

Reading & WritingMid: 517
455585
MathMid: 465
465560

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 20
1823

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

99.2%

Trend

SAT Avg

1050

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$7,513
Tuition (out-of-state)$16,633
Room & Board$10,494
Books & Supplies$1,000
Total Cost of Attendance$19,274
Average Net Price$11,800
Median Debt at Graduation$17,367
Monthly Payment (10yr)$184

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$9,624
$30–48K$9,468
$48–75K$12,083
$75–110K$16,943
$110K+$17,134

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

62.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

30

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

6

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

2

Motor Vehicle Theft

4

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

9

Drug Arrests

7

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (94)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

63%

Negative
  • 63% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
4,636
Gender Split
62% / 38%
Women / Men
First Generation
42%
Pell Grant Recipients
42%

Race & Ethnicity

White 44%
Black 5%
Hispanic 8%
Asian 3%
Two+ 15%
Int'l 2%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate37.2%
Freshman Retention62.8%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$41,207
10 Years$45,379

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — RiverHawks

SoccerBasketballCollege basketball

History & Fun Facts

  • History On May 7, 1851, the Cherokee Nation founded the Cherokee National Female Seminary at Tahlequah, the same year that it opened a male seminary in its territory.
  • In 1921, the name was changed to Northeastern State Teachers College as it had expanded to a full four-year curriculum.
  • On March 6, 2009, NSU celebrated its centennial with Founders Day celebrations.
  • Presidents Albert Sydney Wyly, 1909 Frank Redd, 1909–1911 Frank E.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

OKC Oklahoma City152 mi
MCI Kansas City234 mi
DFW Dallas-Fort Worth240 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1351 mi · ~39h 2m drive
New York, NY1180 mi · ~34h 5m drive
Hartford, CT1262 mi · ~36h 27m drive
Providence, RI1326 mi · ~38h 18m drive
Albany, NY1222 mi · ~35h 18m drive
Syracuse, NY1115 mi · ~32h 13m drive
Rochester, NY1049 mi · ~30h 18m drive
Buffalo, NY982 mi · ~28h 22m drive
Philadelphia, PA1112 mi · ~32h 7m drive
Pittsburgh, PA870 mi · ~25h 8m drive
Harrisburg, PA1026 mi · ~29h 38m drive
Newark, NJ1172 mi · ~33h 51m drive
Washington, DC1004 mi · ~29h drive
Baltimore, MD1029 mi · ~29h 44m drive
Atlanta, GA618 mi · ~17h 51m drive
Charlotte, NC795 mi · ~22h 58m drive
Raleigh, NC913 mi · ~26h 23m drive
Miami, FL1121 mi · ~32h 23m drive
Orlando, FL942 mi · ~27h 13m drive
Tampa, FL916 mi · ~26h 28m drive
Nashville, TN457 mi · ~13h 12m drive
New Orleans, LA501 mi · ~14h 28m drive
Richmond, VA976 mi · ~28h 12m drive
Chicago, IL570 mi · ~16h 28m drive
Detroit, MI776 mi · ~22h 25m drive
Minneapolis, MN632 mi · ~18h 15m drive
St. Louis, MO322 mi · ~9h 18m drive
Kansas City, MO221 mi · ~6h 23m drive
Indianapolis, IN549 mi · ~15h 52m drive
Columbus, OH709 mi · ~20h 29m drive
Cleveland, OH812 mi · ~23h 27m drive
Milwaukee, WI619 mi · ~17h 53m drive
Dallas, TX241 mi · ~6h 58m drive
Houston, TX426 mi · ~12h 18m drive
Austin, TX422 mi · ~12h 11m drive
San Antonio, TX493 mi · ~14h 15m drive
Los Angeles, CA1321 mi · ~38h 10m drive
San Francisco, CA1518 mi · ~43h 51m drive
San Diego, CA1283 mi · ~37h 4m drive
Seattle, WA1613 mi · ~46h 36m drive
Portland, OR1585 mi · ~45h 47m drive
Denver, CO607 mi · ~17h 32m drive
Phoenix, AZ985 mi · ~28h 27m drive
Salt Lake City, UT974 mi · ~28h 8m drive
Honolulu, HI3880 mi · ~112h 5m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Oklahoma City (OKC)152 miles
Rental car
228 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
304 min$182-304
Kansas City (MCI)234 miles
Rental car
351 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
468 min$281-468

Deadline Calendar

Northeastern State University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

Northeastern State University — v2 Preview — TourStack