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Northeastern State University

#698 in US ranking Tahlequah, OK
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$23,052
Tuition & fees
$7,810
Avg. aid
$8,328
Receiving aid
92%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
100%
SAT range
866–1136
ACT range
18–23

Outcomes

Graduation rate
35%
Median salary
$44,185
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Northeastern State University?

Northeastern State University holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is different from accreditation or approval of an individual degree program.

That distinction matters most for students entering regulated professions. Depending on the field, a teaching, nursing, optometry, or other professional program may have separate accreditation or state-approval requirements. Applicants should verify the status of their specific program and the licensing rules in the state where they intend to practice.

Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid, but it does not guarantee that another college will accept a particular course in transfer. The receiving institution decides how transferred coursework applies to its degree requirements.

What are the admission requirements at Northeastern State University?

First-year applicants generally apply to NSU with a high school diploma or recognized equivalent and an academic transcript. The university considers the secondary-school record and GPA. Admission is not formally open to every applicant, although recent first-year admissions figures show that nearly all applicants in the reported group were admitted.

In that reported group, 1,720 of 1,727 first-year applicants received an offer of admission. This describes a past applicant pool, not a promise of admission. SAT and ACT scores were considered rather than universally required in the supplied admissions figures; applicants should check the current policy for their entry term and whether a score could affect scholarship or placement decisions. Recommendations were not listed as a general requirement.

International applicants and applicants whose previous education was not in English may need to document English-language proficiency; TOEFL is among the listed requirements. Graduate, optometry, and other selective programs can have separate prerequisites, applications, and deadlines. Applicants should use the requirements for their specific student category rather than assume the first-year undergraduate rules apply to everyone.

What are the application fees and waivers at Northeastern State University?

The reported undergraduate application fee is $25. An application fee is a charge for processing an application, not a tuition payment or an enrollment deposit.

Fee amounts and waiver procedures can differ by applicant type or application route. A student who may qualify for a waiver should confirm the current instructions before paying or submitting an application; payment is not necessarily refunded simply because an applicant later establishes eligibility. Graduate and professional-program applicants should check their own application instructions for any separate charge.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Northeastern State University?

Army ROTC is available through a unit on NSU's campus. It gives interested students a way to combine college coursework with military leadership training while pursuing an academic degree.

Taking an introductory ROTC course, competing for an ROTC scholarship, and contracting to become an officer are different steps with different obligations. Students considering participation should ask the Army ROTC unit about eligibility, training schedules, scholarship terms, and any service commitment before making a decision. Applicants interested in another military branch should verify whether a current cross-enrollment arrangement is available rather than assume one exists.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Northeastern State University?

NSU accepts transfer applicants and generally considers college credit from other accredited institutions. Transfer entry is available for fall, spring, and summer terms, but admission to the university and acceptance of a particular course toward a degree are separate decisions.

Applicants should expect to provide official transcripts from colleges attended. Depending on their prior credits and program, additional records or prerequisites may apply. NSU also reports accepting several forms of examined or evaluated credit, including CLEP, DSST/DANTES, and applicable American Council on Education recommendations; how that credit counts depends on university and program rules.

The practical question is not just how many credits transfer, but which requirements they satisfy. Before enrolling, a transfer student should request an official degree evaluation for the intended major and ask about upper-division requirements, minimum NSU credits, and any professional-program restrictions. Recent enrollment figures recorded 811 incoming transfer students, making transfer entry a substantial part of the university's undergraduate intake.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Northeastern State University?

Students interested in studying abroad should check NSU's current international education offerings for the term they plan to travel. The availability of a semester program, shorter faculty-led trip, exchange, or outside-provider program can change, and an opportunity advertised in a prior year may not run again.

Before committing to a program, students need approval for how overseas courses will count toward their NSU degree. They should also ask about travel costs, passports and visas, insurance, accessibility, and whether their particular grants or scholarships can be used. An approved academic plan is especially important for students whose majors have tightly sequenced courses or clinical requirements.

Northeastern State University Admissions Factors

SAT range
866–1136
4001600
ACT range
18–23
136
Acceptance rate
100%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
100%
Oklahoma
76%
US
78%

39% of admitted students enrolled (671 of 1,720)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 6-11
ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

Northeastern State University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 1,727
Admission
Total: 1,720
Enrolled
Total: 671
Women
Men

How to Apply to Northeastern State University

Application fee

$25

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

Northeastern State University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 589
Out-of-state: 57
International: 14

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 671
Transfer: 811

Northeastern State University Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

982

Median composite ACT score

20

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

86.5%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Required

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

Yes

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

No

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

Northeastern State University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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