The Cherokee people who survived the Trail of Tears brought to Indian Territory a belief in the value of education. For the past century, Northeastern students have benefitted from the vision and dedication that led to the creation of the Cherokee National Female Seminary in 1846 and the quest to prepare young people to pursue a college education.

The transition to a state-funded school in 1909 attracted students from communities near Tahlequah who aspired to become teachers, business leaders and professionals. Through the decades, expanding the variety of programs available not only enabled students to achieve dreams, but propelled NSU into the 21st century as Oklahoma’s Premier Regional University.

At the dawn of our second century, NSU remains committed to providing relevant degree programs that prepare students to meet their career goals. A flexible, innovative learning environment requires updating degree programs frequently, with an eye on expectations for the future.

Alumni often choose to endow scholarships for deserving students to repay the opportunities they enjoyed, made possible by benefactors who came before them. This philosophy of 'paying it forward' enables NSU to offer scholarship opportunities that allow the next generation of NSU students to make their mark on the world.

As we improve our facilities through campus beautification projects and modernizing our learning and extracurricular environments, we are ensuring the NSU experience for future generations.

Through quality teaching, research, and scholarly activities, service to local and professional communities, and high expectations, NSU is dedicated to providing a learning environment where students are prepared to achieve career and personal goals for success in a challenging global society. Exceptional undergraduate, graduate and selected doctoral degree programs form solid groundwork. And working through partnerships, NSU continues to strive toward goals that benefit the individual and our community of scholars.