Head-to-head comparison
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus vs Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology: which has better ROI?
Option A Stillwater, OK
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
- Net price / year
- $17,447
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,413
- Payback
- 7.7 yrs
Option B Tulsa, OK
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
- Net price / year
- $29,776
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,944
- Payback
- 37.6 yrs
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $69,788 in 7.7 years versus 37.6 years at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, on median earnings of $57,413 vs $49,944 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,447 | $29,776 |
| Total net cost | $69,788 | $59,552 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,413 | $49,944 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $16,750 |
| Payback | 7.7 yrs | 37.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $111,272 | -$27,872 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus or Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology?
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus, at $17,447 a year after aid versus $29,776 — a gap of $12,329 a year, or $10,236 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 State University-Main Campus or Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology graduates earn more?
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus graduates report a median $57,413 ten years after entry, $7,469 more than the $49,944 at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. 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 State University-Main Campus or Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology?
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology: its completers carry a median $16,750 in federal loans versus $20,500 at Oklahoma State University-Main Campus, a difference of $3,750. 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?
68% of students finish at Oklahoma State University-Main Campus, against 51% at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. 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.