Best Online Colleges in Oklahoma

Benefits of Studying Online in Oklahoma

Home to the stately Oklahoma City and an abundance of wide open spaces filled with plenty of outdoor activities, Oklahoma is an amazing region for those who want to combine higher education and leisure into one convenient package. Boasting a population of more than 3.9 million, the Sooner State ranks 28th in size nationally, while also bringing with it the 20th most land mass (just shy of 70,000 sq. miles). Not to mention, 7% of the total area of Oklahoma falls under federally mandated protection, thus ensuring that there are plenty of untouched lands and habitats for nature enthusiasts to explore.

Employment Stats

In terms of economic health and job prospects, Oklahoma's stats look quite promising. In October 2022, Oklahoma met the national baseline of 1,688,300 non-farm employees, ranking 28th and accounting for 1.1% of the nation's total employment. That being said, the Sooner State only added 35.5 thousand new workplaces, making it the 44th fastest growing state (-2.15%). On the other hand, the state still lags it’s median state by -289 thousand, which works out to a difference of -15%.

Looking at the state's competition, Oklahoma even managed to top Utah ever -so-slightly, outpacing them by 8,000 workers (or 0.48%). Nevertheless, Louisiana beat out Oklahoma by 244,000 employees (-12.6%), forging a solid 28-27 lead, which makes sense given that the state holds almost twice the population of Oklahoma. While those statistics are certainly eye-catching, the max comes in at 90% (-1,688k) below the nation’s leader (California) -which lines up with the fact that Oklahoma accounts for just 1.2% of the nation’s population.

Job Opportunities

Oklahoma is a growing state and offers numerous opportunities for students of all stripes. The state has nearly 725 different job types, and is currently the 24th most diverse in terms of job offerings, 0.4% above the national median of 722 job types. This means that the state has a correspondingly larger number of unique career pathways than many other states, allowing students to explore a number of different options.

Oklahoma also offers the advantage of lower costs of living, particularly in the larger cities like Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Norman. The state also has a number of top-tier universities, including the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, both of which are ranked in the top 200 of US colleges. There are also numerous fortune 500 companies headquartered in the state, like Devon Energy and Love’s Travel Stops.

Overall, despite a relatively small population, Oklahoma maintains a strong and growing labor market, with plenty of employment opportunities expected to become available in the foreseeable future. With nearly 70,000 sq. miles of land to explore and a solid job market, Oklahoma is a great destination for those looking to make the most of their educational experience.

*All data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023)