Oklahoma doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 17 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 17 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Stillwater came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Oklahoma For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Oklahoma's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 21,773 (44 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 49,269 |
| Median rent | $947 |
| Graduation rate | 65% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $28,290 |
Stillwater is home to Oklahoma State University-Main Campus. There are 44 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $947 a month, and the average cost to attend is $28,290 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 17 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Northeastern State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,772 (28 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 16,935 |
| Median rent | $835 |
| Graduation rate | 48% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,551 |
Tahlequah is home to Northeastern State University. There are 28 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $835 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,551 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 17 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | East Central University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,467 (15 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 16,575 |
| Median rent | $894 |
| Graduation rate | 42% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $18,459 |
Ada is home to East Central University. There are 15 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $894 a month, and the average cost to attend is $18,459 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 17 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Southwestern Oklahoma State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,514 (29 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 12,004 |
| Median rent | $804 |
| Graduation rate | 50% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,334 |
Weatherford is home to Southwestern Oklahoma State University. There are 29 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $804 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,334 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 17 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,028 (18 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 11,348 |
| Median rent | $837 |
| Graduation rate | 51% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $17,256 |
Okmulgee is home to Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. There are 18 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $837 a month, and the average cost to attend is $17,256 a year. It ranks 16th for crime among the 17 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Rogers State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,657 (13 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 20,166 |
| Median rent | $1,009 |
| Graduation rate | 32% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,064 |
Claremore is home to Rogers State University. There are 13 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,009 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,064 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 17 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 22,734 (18 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 129,672 |
| Median rent | $1,090 |
| Graduation rate | 69% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $28,872 |
Norman is home to University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus. There are 18 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,090 a month, and the average cost to attend is $28,872 a year. It ranks 11th for crime among the 17 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Oklahoma Wesleyan University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 673 (2 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 37,878 |
| Median rent | $916 |
| Graduation rate | 37% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $44,743 |
Bartlesville is home to Oklahoma Wesleyan University. There are 2 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $916 a month, and the average cost to attend is $44,743 a year. It ranks 10th for crime among the 17 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma Christian University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 12,055 (12 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 96,825 |
| Median rent | $1,344 |
| Graduation rate | 50% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $32,749 |
Edmond is home to University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma Christian University. There are 12 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,344 a month, and the average cost to attend is $32,749 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 17 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Oral Roberts University, University of Tulsa, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,140 (2 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 413,794 |
| Median rent | $1,052 |
| Graduation rate | 66% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $50,245 |
Tulsa is home to Oral Roberts University, University of Tulsa, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. There are 2 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,052 a month, and the average cost to attend is $50,245 a year. It ranks 17th for crime among the 17 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Oklahoma
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 17 towns in Oklahoma that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Oklahoma.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Oklahoma.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Oklahoma
If you're looking for the best college towns in Oklahoma, Stillwater is where to start.
The best college towns in Oklahoma are Stillwater, Tahlequah, Ada, Weatherford, Okmulgee, Claremore, Norman, Bartlesville, Edmond, and Tulsa.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Oklahoma for 2026?
Stillwater is the best college town in Oklahoma for 2026, followed by Tahlequah and Ada.
How did you rank the best college towns in Oklahoma?
We looked at every town in Oklahoma with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Oklahoma?
Shawnee ranks last of the 17 college towns we ranked in Oklahoma for 2026.
Best College Towns In Oklahoma For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stillwater, OK | 49,269 | 21,773 | $947 |
| 2 | Tahlequah, OK | 16,935 | 4,772 | $835 |
| 3 | Ada, OK | 16,575 | 2,467 | $894 |
| 4 | Weatherford, OK | 12,004 | 3,514 | $804 |
| 5 | Okmulgee, OK | 11,348 | 2,028 | $837 |
| 6 | Claremore, OK | 20,166 | 2,657 | $1,009 |
| 7 | Norman, OK | 129,672 | 22,734 | $1,090 |
| 8 | Bartlesville, OK | 37,878 | 673 | $916 |
| 9 | Edmond, OK | 96,825 | 12,055 | $1,344 |
| 10 | Tulsa, OK | 413,794 | 7,140 | $1,052 |
| 11 | Lawton, OK | 90,595 | 2,492 | $967 |
| 12 | Bethany, OK | 20,560 | 1,832 | $1,071 |
| 13 | Chickasha, OK | 16,539 | 941 | $888 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | 697,125 | 7,908 | $1,130 |
| 15 | Moore, OK | 63,420 | 267 | $1,340 |
| 16 | Durant, OK | 19,746 | 3,018 | $953 |
| 17 | Shawnee, OK | 31,671 | 1,390 | $936 |
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