More than 87% of graduates from Oklahoma’s state system colleges and universities are living and working in Oklahoma one year after earning their degrees, according to the State Regents’2025 Employment Outcomes Report. Five years after graduation, more than 81% remain in the state. The report matches data from the State Regents, the Employment Security Commission and the Tax Commission.
Retention is especially strong in critical workforce fields. Nearly 89% of nursing graduates are employed in Oklahoma a year after graduating, and more than 88% of Oklahoma’s Promise graduates stay and work in-state one year after finishing their degrees. State Regents’Chair Courtney Warmington said graduates who build their lives here strengthen the labor force and boost the economy.
The report also connects education level to earnings. Higher degrees generally mean higher salaries, and wages continue to grow at the five- and ten-year marks. For families in Lawton weighing in-state options, the numbers offer a clear picture of where graduates end up: close to home, in jobs that matter. Does that match what you’re seeing in your own family or workplace?
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Local Lawton
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