By NICHOLAS DUNBAR, Staff Writer
Picking a college is a hard decision, especially when you have to do it more than once. Choosing where to go after Eastern will come before you know it, so it’s important to start thinking about it early. Sometimes, it’s as easy as picking which school has the degree you want to major in. Many colleges have multiple degree plans covering a broad spectrum of interests, so it comes down to price, location, and how big of a school you want to attend.
One of the closest 4-year colleges is East Central University (ECU). It is located in Ada and is most known for its programs in business, liberal arts, education, and nursing. It is a little larger than the Wilburton campus but still located in a small rural town.
Also, it is not too far, and one of Eastern’s partner colleges, Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SOSU) is located in Durant. They are also known for their business and nursing programs and respiratory, sciences, and arts programs. With Eastern’s McAlester campus also being Southeastern’s campus, you could complete both of your degrees from two different schools all in one place.
Northeastern State University (NSU) is located in Tahlequah. Also known for its liberal arts and science programs, NSU is one of the only schools with an optometry program and has been ranked as one of the best. With Tahlequah being the capital of the Cherokee Nation, many Native American classes are taught on campus, and you can even gain a degree in Cherokee Language Education.
The University of Oklahoma (OU) is best known for its football and scholarly records. Having more distinct classes, OU offers degrees in archeology, law, journalism and liberal studies. As well as being known for their athletics, being 43-time national champions.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, also known for both football and academics, is Oklahoma State University (OSU). Offering many degrees, OSU is known best for its degrees in agriculture, engineering, business and biomedical sciences. Also well-received for their athletics, being 52-time national champions, slightly outdoing OU.
Finding the right college could determine the rest of your life, so knowing which ones have the degrees you want is important. Attending college fairs, like the one held last Thursday, can get you more information about schools and is an easy way to find the one you need. If you missed this one, there will be plenty more in the future, so be sure to look out for emails or flyers for the next one.
