MacKenzie Scott has added another institution to her growing list of higher-education beneficiaries, awarding a $17 million unrestricted gift to Northern Oklahoma College.
According to The Oklahoman, the donation is the largest in the school’s 124-year history. It extends Scott’s ongoing series of significant contributions to colleges and universities across the country—including HBCUs, tribal colleges, and other minority-serving institutions.
Northern Oklahoma College, founded in 1901, is the oldest public community college in the state. The institution serves roughly 3,200 students across its main campus in Tonkawa, a satellite campus in Enid, and academic programs in Stillwater and Ponca City.
The college reported that about 80% of its students receive financial aid or scholarships, and three-quarters complete their degrees with no debt, making the unrestricted gift especially impactful for a campus centered on affordability and access.
NOC President Diana Morris said the college’s tagline, “Life Changing,” captures the significance of Scott’s donation. “Her gift is truly that for our students and the communities we serve,” Morris wrote.
She emphasized that unrestricted support allows the college to allocate funding where it will be most effective. “I cannot possibly adequately articulate my gratitude for Ms. Scott’s vote of confidence in the mission and activities of the college,” she said, noting that the resources will help advance NOC’s vision of academic quality, cultural enrichment, and student success.
The gift arrives as Northern Oklahoma College prepares for a planning retreat in January led by the NOC Foundation. Board of Regents chair Mike Loftis said the $17 million contribution adds weight to those discussions, which will focus on priorities outlined in the 2025-2030 strategic plan.
The plan centers on expanding the student pipeline and producing workforce-ready graduates. Loftis noted that the unrestricted donation gives the college “a spend-down plan addressing institutional priorities much more aggressively than would have been possible otherwise.”
Scott’s contribution to NOC is part of a larger pattern of major gifts announced since mid-October. During that period, she has given more than $750 million to colleges and universities—including several landmark donations to historically Black colleges and universities.
Those contributions include $38 million to Xavier University of Louisiana, $63 million to Prairie View A&M University, $50 million to Norfolk State University, $50 million to Bowie State University, $63 million to North Carolina A&T State University, $50 million to Winston-Salem State University, and $38 million to Spelman College.
She also awarded $70 million to the United Negro College Fund, $5 million to Little Priest Tribal College, and $50 million to the Native Forward Scholars Fund.
These institutions cited similar needs—financial support for students, expanded research capacity, strengthened endowments, and long-term stability. Many also noted that Scott’s unrestricted approach allows leadership to move forward on strategic goals without traditional funding constraints.