Head-to-head comparison
Oklahoma City University vs Oklahoma Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?
Option A Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City University
- Net price / year
- $22,857
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,655
- Payback
- 14.5 yrs
Option B Bartlesville, OK
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
- Net price / year
- $28,358
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,841
- Payback
- 9.9 yrs
Oklahoma Wesleyan University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $113,432 in 9.9 years versus 14.5 years at Oklahoma City University, on median earnings of $59,841 vs $54,655 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Oklahoma City University | Oklahoma Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,857 | $28,358 |
| Total net cost | $91,428 | $113,432 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,655 | $59,841 |
| Median debt | $20,835 | $24,813 |
| Payback | 14.5 yrs | 9.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $34,472 | $116,188 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Oklahoma City University or Oklahoma Wesleyan University?
Oklahoma City University, at $22,857 a year after aid versus $28,358 — a gap of $5,501 a year, or $22,004 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 Oklahoma City University or Oklahoma Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Oklahoma Wesleyan University graduates report a median $59,841 ten years after entry, $5,186 more than the $54,655 at Oklahoma City 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, Oklahoma City University or Oklahoma Wesleyan University?
Oklahoma City University: its completers carry a median $20,835 in federal loans versus $24,813 at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, a difference of $3,978. 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?
65% of students finish at Oklahoma City University, against 35% at Oklahoma Wesleyan 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.