Head-to-head comparison
Northeastern State University vs Cameron University: which has better ROI?
Option A Tahlequah, OK
Northeastern State University
- Net price / year
- $12,710
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,379
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Lawton, OK
Cameron University
- Net price / year
- $10,912
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,118
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northeastern State University comes closer — median earnings $45,379 against a $50,840 total, vs $40,118 at Cameron University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northeastern State University | Cameron University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,710 | $10,912 |
| Total net cost | $50,840 | $43,648 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,379 | $40,118 |
| Median debt | $17,367 | $21,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$110,460 | -$208,488 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Northeastern State University or Cameron University?
Cameron University, at $10,912 a year after aid versus $12,710 — a gap of $1,798 a year, or $7,192 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Northeastern State University or Cameron University graduates earn more?
Northeastern State University graduates report a median $45,379 ten years after entry, $5,261 more than the $40,118 at Cameron University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Northeastern State University or Cameron University?
Northeastern State University: its completers carry a median $17,367 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Cameron University, a difference of $4,133. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
35% of students finish at Northeastern State University, against 31% at Cameron University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.