Rogers State University has been recognized by two independent ranking organizations for graduates having low student debt, including the lowest in Oklahoma and among the nation’s lowest.
LendEDU, an online marketplace for student loans and student loan finance, named RSU as having the lowest average student debt per borrower out of the 21 ranked Oklahoma colleges and universities, both public and private. It ranked RSU 35th out of 1,300 schools nationwide.
ValueColleges, an organization that ranks colleges by value and affordability, ranked RSU 26th out of 50 universities with the lowest student debt upon graduation. Other Oklahoma universities included Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Northwestern Oklahoma State University, which ranked 39th and 46th respectively.
The reports noted that more than half of RSU’s graduates earned their diploma without taking a student loan.
RSU President Dr. Larry Rice credited RSU’s low student debt numbers to its affordable tuition and the diligence of the RSU Financial Aid office and RSU Foundation to help students receive financial assistance.
“In these times where decreased state support for higher education is forcing students and their families to shoulder the lion’s share for the cost of a college education, I am proud that RSU can offer aid packages and private assistance that keep a college degree within reach for deserving Oklahomans.”
RSU offers master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees at three campuses in Claremore, Bartlesville and Pryor, as well as its nationally recognized RSU Online. Oklahoma has been recognized as one of the most affordable higher education systems in the nation, with RSU included among national leaders for lowest in-state tuition.
RSU students have access to a variety of financial aid options, including merit- and need-based scholarships, grants, loans, work study, and student employment. The RSU Foundation also supports students with endowed and unrestricted scholarships. As a result, 84 percent of RSU’s students receive financial aid, with students receiving an average financial aid package of $6,860.
In addition to these recent reports, U.S. News and World Reports’ “America’s Best Colleges” for four consecutive years has recognized RSU for having graduates with among the nation’s lowest per student debt.
For more information about RSU financial aid, call 918-343-7553 or visit www.rsu.edu/financial-aid.