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Statewide Employment Outcomes

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The employment outcomes data is generated through a records match between the State Regents, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) and the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC). This data is used to determine the percentage of state system graduates who remain and are employed in the state one year and five years after graduation (2020-2021 and 2016-2017, respectively).

Graduate records are divided into two groups: (1) Oklahoma residents and (2) non-Oklahoma residents. Graduates are identified as Oklahoma residents if Oklahoma is the original state of residence when entering an Oklahoma higher education institution. If the original state of residence at enrollment is anything other than Oklahoma, the graduate is considered a non-Oklahoma resident.

The OESC database does not reflect the self-employed, employees of the federal government (e.g., military and postal service) and graduates working outside of Oklahoma. Additionally, the data does not include graduates who may have transitioned to graduate school, another positive outcome post-graduation. The OTC database includes couples filing joint returns; therefore, employment of the degree recipient is assumed, but may be that of a spouse.

The majority of Oklahoma’s state system graduates remain in the state, contributing to the state’s economy and opportunities for growth, even five years after graduation.

2022 Employment Outcomes Report (PDF, 875k)

96% of Oklahoma residents graduating from a public institution are employed in the state one year after graduation. Median annual earnings increase as degree level advances. Of STEM graduates from our state system colleges and universities, more than 84% are working in the state one year after graduation, and more than 70% five years after graduation. Nearly two-thirds of non-resident undergraduates remain and work in Oklahoma one year after graduation. 88% of teacher education graduates are employed in the state one year after graduation. Of engineering graduates, more than 84% of bachelor's degree earners are working in the state one year after graduation. At all degree levels, more than 95% of nursing graduates were employed in the state one year after graduation and more than 90% still remained five years after graduation, meeting a critical workforce need. More than 96% of Oklahoma's Promise graduates earning an associate or bachelor's degree are employed in the state one year after graduation, and over 91% are still employed five years later.