Northeastern State University’s Broken Arrow campus is seeing significant growth, with enrollment increasing 19.2 percent following a change in Oklahoma law that expanded the courses the campus can offer.
In May 2025, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 701 into law, allowing NSU to offer freshman- and sophomore-level courses at its Broken Arrow campus. Previously, the campus primarily served upper-level and graduate students.
NSU President Dr. Rodney Hanley recently updated the Broken Arrow City Council on the university’s growth, saying the new law has helped transform the Broken Arrow campus.
“SB701 has begun transforming the [Broken Arrow] campus,” Hanley said.
The university is also reporting growth beyond Broken Arrow. Overall enrollment across NSU’s three campuses has increased 4.8 percent, while freshman enrollment is up 30 percent.
Hanley said the freshman increase may be the largest in the university’s history.
“I believe, as far as I can tell, it’s the greatest increase in freshman enrollment in the history of Northeastern State University,” he said.
NSU is now in its fourth consecutive year of overall enrollment growth, reversing a 15-year downward trend. Transfer student enrollment is up 5 percent, while enrollment at the university’s Tahlequah campus has increased 2 percent.
Hanley said the growth in Broken Arrow has not come at the expense of the Tahlequah campus, something some had initially feared when the Broken Arrow campus was expanded.
The university is also expanding student opportunities outside the classroom. This fall, NSU added men’s wrestling, women’s wrestling and women’s volleyball to its athletic programs.
University officials say keeping students in northeastern Oklahoma is an important part of NSU’s mission. According to Hanley, 96 percent of NSU graduates remain in Oklahoma after graduation.
“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.
Economic Impact in Broken Arrow
NSU’s presence also has a substantial economic impact on the region. Hanley cited a recent study by the University of Cincinnati Economic Center that estimated NSU generated a $500 million economic impact across Oklahoma in 2024.
In Broken Arrow and the surrounding area, the university reported:
- $72.2 million in total economic impact through output and wages
- $35.3 million in economic activity and wages generated by student spending
- $15.5 million in statewide tax revenue
- $13.49 returned to the economy for every $1 invested by the Oklahoma Legislature
“That means for every dollar we receive, we put $13.49 back into the economy,” Hanley said.
New Partnership With Regent Bank Amphitheater
NSU is also strengthening its ties to Broken Arrow through a new partnership with Regent Bank Amphitheater.
The university has signed a marketing agreement to serve as the amphitheater’s exclusive higher education sponsor. NSU will work with the city to provide parking for events, while the amphitheater will offer internship opportunities for students and host NSU College Nights and other university activities.
One of the biggest changes will bring an important NSU tradition directly to Broken Arrow.
Hanley announced that graduation ceremonies for students at the Broken Arrow campus will be held at Regent Bank Amphitheater.
“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.
With enrollment climbing, new athletic programs underway and expanded community partnerships, NSU’s Broken Arrow campus continues to grow its presence in the city and the greater Tulsa area.
