Tahlequah is the capital of the Cherokee Nation, and Northeastern State University grew out of the Cherokee National Female Seminary, whose red-brick Seminary Hall still stands at the centre of campus. Today it's a regional public university with campuses in Tahlequah, Muskogee and Broken Arrow, near Tulsa. It's home to the Oklahoma College of Optometry. Fees are low.
Tahlequah, Oklahoma, United States
Official website: nsuok.edu
Cherokee National Female Seminary
Public regional university
Tahlequah, Muskogee and Broken Arrow
Oklahoma College of Optometry
$15,000 – $19,000
International students, before scholarships, approximate
$10,000 – $13,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on nsuok.edu before you apply.
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
BS Nursing
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Doctor of Optometry
DoctorateDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
TOEFL: 79
The Oklahoma College of Optometry.
Deep ties with the Cherokee Nation.
A Broken Arrow campus in the Tulsa area.
Graduates work in health care, education and business across eastern Oklahoma.
Optometry graduates practise in clinics, including Indian Health Service facilities.
Bachelor's graduates can usually work in the US for a year on OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Selected programmes
Tahlequah is a small town in the green hills of eastern Oklahoma. The Illinois River nearby is popular for floating and camping in summer.
Living costs are very low. Tulsa is about an hour away, and the Broken Arrow campus is on its south-east edge.
Form I-20 issued by Northeastern State University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
NSU reviews international applications on a rolling basis. Apply by early summer for fall or October for spring. Optometry uses OptomCAS with earlier deadlines.
Students start in August for fall or January for spring.
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, Northeastern State University issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, nursing, the MBA and optometry are popular. Undergraduates need school transcripts and IELTS 6.0; the MBA needs a bachelor's degree, and optometry needs specific science prerequisites and the OAT.
NSU offers some tuition waivers and scholarships to international students. Ask the international office which ones are open when you apply.
