SWOSU Press Release

Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has been recognized as one of the top institutions in the region in the recently released 2025 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges and Best Online Colleges rankings.

The U.S. News & World Report’s rankings are determined based on key characteristics, such as information regarding majors, campus life, and more. The magazine also uses data provided directly by the institutions, with statistics that are not available to and from external sources. The U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics provides information about graduation rates, retention rates, and expenditures.

SWOSU ranked 64th in the “Regional Universities- West” category and 34th in the “Top Public Schools: Regional Universities- West” category. SWOSU’s ranking is the second highest among the ten four-year regional universities in Oklahoma. These rankings highlight the university’s excellence, placing it among the top-performing institutions within the RUSO system.

These rankings reflect SWOSU’s commitment to offering high-quality, affordable educations and supporting students in achieving their academic goals.

SWOSU also received recognition in the Best Online Colleges rankings. SWOSU’s online bachelor’s programs ranked 123rd, climbing five spots from last year’s rankings. SWOSU’s ranking is the second highest in Oklahoma, trailing only the University of Oklahoma, ranked 32nd. The magazine rated SWOSU through its online bachelor’s degrees through the RN-to-BSN nursing, health information management, and organizational leadership programs. Additionally, the university’s online bachelor’s in business programs were recognized for the first time, debuting at 104th. This acknowledgement demonstrates the university’s ongoing efforts to expand and enhance its online education offerings, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for students balancing work, family, and other responsibilities.

SWOSU’s achievements in these rankings emphasize its dedication to providing exceptional educational opportunities, both in-person and online. The university’s recognition in these national rankings solidifies its position as a leader in higher education within the region.

For more information about SWOSU’s programs, visit www.swosu.edu. To see the 2025 U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” lists, visit https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges and https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/southwestern-oklahoma-state-university-207865