NSU-BA enrollment grows 19.2 percent

In May 2025, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed SB701 into law, allowing Northeastern State University to offer freshman- and sophomore-level courses at its Broken Arrow campus.

According to University President Dr. Rodney Hanley, SB701 has had a profoundly positive impact on the university, especially at the Broken Arrow campus. Hanley updated the City Council on the university's growth trajectory, which he attributes in part to the new state law.

"SB701 has begun transforming the [Broken Arrow] campus," Hanley said.

Northeastern State University has seen a 19.2 percent increase in enrollment in Broken Arrow.

"The increase is because of the law change, your efforts, and the efforts of so many people here in Broken Arrow, folks at Northeastern State University, and the community that wanted to see that law changed," Hanley said. "We were able to do it, and we're seeing the results today."

In addition, NSU is experiencing a 4.8 percent increase in total enrollment across all three campuses and a 30 percent increase in freshman enrollment. Hanley said the university initially saw enrollment rise when the new law passed last year. However, because it occurred mid-year, they didn't know what to expect for fall enrollment, when students traditionally enroll.

"I believe, as far as I can tell, it's the greatest increase in freshman enrollment in the history of Northeastern State University," Hanley said.

The university is in its fourth year of overall enrollment growth, reversing a 15-year downward trend. Transfer student enrollment has increased by 5 percent, and the NSU Tahlequah campus enrollment increased by 2 percent, Hanley said.

"Some folks in Tahlequah thought, 'Well, if we open up our Broken Arrow campus, it will come at the expense of our Tahlequah campus, and the data doesn't show that,'" Hanley said.

This fall, NSU has also added three new sports to its athletic department, including Men's and Women's Wrestling and Women's Volleyball.

"We're proud of what we've been able to do in getting students from Broken Arrow and the Greater Tulsa Area to come to NSU and get an education, so they don't leave," Hanley said. "We don't want them to go somewhere else for a degree. Once they leave, the odds of them coming back go way down."

Hanley says 96 percent of NSU graduates remain in Oklahoma after graduation.

"That means we are an economic engine for the state and the region," he said.

A recent economic impact study by the University of Cincinnati Economic Center found NSU's impact on the State of Oklahoma was $500 million in 2024, Hanley said.

Specifically, in Broken Arrow and the immediate area:

• NSU's total economic impact on Broken Arrow was $72.2 million in output and wages
• Broken Arrow student spending totaled $35.3 million in output and wages
• NSU also created $15.5 million in statewide tax revenue
• $13.49 returned for every $1 invested by the state legislature

"That means for every dollar we receive, we put $13.49 back into the economy," Hanley said.

Hanley also expressed his excitement about working with the Regent Bank Amphitheater. NSU has signed a marketing agreement to be the amphitheater's exclusive higher education sponsor. The university will also work with the city to provide parking for events held at the venue. In addition, Regent Amphitheater will offer internship opportunities for students, host NSU College Nights, and provide facilities for some university events, such as graduation.

"We also have an agreement in place to bring the graduation ceremony of our Broken Arrow campus to Broken Arrow, where it will be held at the amphitheater," Hanley said.