U.S. News Recognizes RSU for Low Student Debt, Diversity

Rogers State University was recognized among the region’s top schools for lowest student debt upon graduation and most ethnically diverse student bodies, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges annual survey.

This is the fourth consecutive year U.S. News’ Best Colleges has recognized RSU for having graduates with low student debt when compared to regional peers. The annual report, released today, noted almost half (49 percent) of RSU’s 2013 graduating class earned a diploma without student debt, which was the most among western regional colleges. For those who did assume student debt, RSU graduates had the second-lowest average debt of $13,403 when compared with western regional college peers.

RSU was joined by Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology-Okmulgee as the only Oklahoma schools included in the ranks of graduates with lowest student debt for all national or regional colleges and universities.

U.S. News also noted RSU is among the region’s most ethnically diverse schools with 18 percent of RSU students self-reporting as multiracial, or being from two or more races. Additionally, about 13 percent of RSU’s student population report they are solely Native American, according to university reports.

RSU President Dr. Larry Rice said the university’s high marks for low student debt is attributed to ongoing efforts to find public and private aid to make college affordable for a student body where 84 percent receive financial aid.

“We seek to increase the number of Oklahomans who have earned a college degree, but declining state support for higher education makes it increasingly difficult for students to attend college without assuming loans,” Rice said. “I thank our Financial Aid office and the RSU Foundation for working closely with our students to secure financial assistance that makes college possible and affordable at RSU.”

RSU remains committed to providing financial aid for students, including the allocation of $4.77 million in scholarships for the 2015-16 budget year – a 3 percent increase from the previous year. Scholarships and tuition waivers represent 13.8 percent of RSU’s budget this year.

The U.S. News data include loans taken out by students from their colleges, from private financial institutions, and from federal, state and local governments. Loans to parents are not included. The “average amount of debt” refers to the cumulative amount borrowed by students who incurred debt; it’s not an average for all students.