At $14,542/yr net price, Southwestern Oklahoma State University graduates earn $45,744/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $11,744/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $14,542 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $58,168 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,744/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$11,744/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 34.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $15,954 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,740/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,695/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,263/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,412/yr |
| $110,001+ | $18,669/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Doctoral | $119,557 | $86,800 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $63,328 | $15,973 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $62,479 | $13,784 |
| Engineering Technology, General. | Bachelor | $57,318 | $21,017 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $52,464 | $15,716 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master | $39,585 | $22,396 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master | $38,289 | $20,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $37,671 | $18,700 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor | $37,208 | $19,755 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | Bachelor | $34,704 |
The Risk Factor
34.7% of students at Southwestern Oklahoma State University graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Southwestern Oklahoma State University gives you a low-cost degree with modest returns, and your major decides everything. The debt you take on stays manageable, but median earnings ten years out sit below what many graduates need to feel a degree paid off. The financial picture is mixed, and it swings hard depending on what you study.
Nursing is the clear winner here. It pays the most of any program on campus and comes with the lowest debt of the bachelor's degrees listed, so you graduate owing little and earning well. Engineering technology pays nearly as well but loads you with more debt to get there. After those two, the drop is steep. Business administration, teacher education, and interdisciplinary studies all land in the mid-$30,000s, which barely clears the school's overall median and leaves you carrying more debt than the nursing graduates who out-earn you by roughly $25,000 a year.
The bigger risk is finishing at all. Only about a third of students graduate, and fewer than seven in ten come back after their first year. If you borrow, start a program, and leave without the degree, you keep the debt and lose the earnings bump. That is the specific danger at a school where the completion odds are against you.
This school fits you if you are aiming for nursing or engineering technology and can commit to finishing. If you want business, teaching, or interdisciplinary studies, weigh the cost against those flat salaries carefully.
On price, families earning under $48,000 pay well below the sticker figure, making this an affordable option at lower incomes. Above $75,000, your net price climbs by several thousand dollars, so the discount thins out and the value depends more on which degree you finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Southwestern Oklahoma State University worth the cost?
SWOSU offers decent value with a low net price of $14,542 annually and manageable debt levels around $16,000. However, the 35% graduation rate is concerning and may limit your return on investment if you don't complete your degree.
What are the best paying majors at Southwestern Oklahoma State University?
Pharmacy graduates earn the highest salaries at $119,557 annually, making it SWOSU's strongest ROI program. Business and nursing graduates also see solid returns with median earnings over $60,000.
How much debt do Southwestern Oklahoma State University graduates have?
SWOSU graduates carry a median debt of $15,954, which is relatively low compared to national averages. This manageable debt load helps improve the school's overall value proposition.
What is the job market like for Southwestern Oklahoma State University graduates?
SWOSU graduates earn a median of $45,744 ten years after graduation, which is below the national average for college graduates. The school's rural Oklahoma location may limit some career opportunities outside of pharmacy and healthcare fields.