Of Oklahomans who graduate from an Oklahoma state system college or university, nearly 94% remain and work in the state one year after graduation, according to the 2023 Employment Outcomes Report from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
“The state system of higher education remains focused on meeting Oklahoma’s critical workforce demands,” said State Regents’ Chair Dennis Casey. “This report validates the state’s investment in public higher education – our graduates learn here and earn here. When college and university graduates choose to stay in Oklahoma, they join our labor force and contribute in their communities, which strengthens our economy.”
Employment outcome rates reflected in the report are calculated from data matched between the State Regents, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) and Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) records to determine the percentage of state system graduates who remain in and are employed in the state one year and five years after graduation.
“Year after year, data show that the vast majority of resident graduates from our public institutions – and over half of non-resident graduates – decide to make a living and build a life right here in Oklahoma,” said Chancellor Allison D. Garrett. “Even five years after graduation, these individuals are helping us meet our workforce needs in healthcare, engineering, computer science, education, business, and numerous other key fields.”
The report shows that five years after graduation, more than 85% of Oklahomans who graduate from a state system college or university remain and work in the state.
Of STEM graduates from our state system colleges and universities, more than 91% of resident undergraduate students remain and work in Oklahoma one year after graduation. Five years after graduating with a STEM degree from a public institution, more than 80% still live and work here.
Of graduates in fields identified by Oklahoma Works as critical to economic growth and wealth generation in the state, nearly 94% of resident undergraduate students remain and work in Oklahoma one year after graduation, and 86% remain and work in the state five years after graduation.
Nearly 80% of engineering graduates earning a bachelor’s degree are working in the state one year later. Of teacher education graduates from our public institutions, nearly 92% earning a bachelor’s degree are employed in Oklahoma one year after graduation. Nearly 95% of nursing graduates at all degree levels are employed in the state one year after graduation, and more than 87% remained five years later, meeting a critical workforce need.
Most Oklahoma’s Promise students also stay and work in the state after earning a degree. More than 94% of Oklahoma’s Promise graduates remain and work in Oklahoma one year after graduation, and over 86% are still living and working in the state after five years.
The report also examines how education level impacts earnings. The 2023 study supports national data that link salary to educational attainment. Consistent with national trends, data for graduates of Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities confirm that the higher the degree a student earns, the higher the salary they are likely to earn. Additionally, wages increase five years after graduation at all degree levels.
The 2023 Employment Outcomes Report is available online at https://okhighered.org/econ-dev/statewide-employment-outcomes/.