MacKenzie Scott donated $17 million to Northern Oklahoma College, the largest gift in the century-old institution's history. The unrestricted gift will fund scholarships and programs at a college where about 80% of students receive financial aid and many graduate with little or no debt. Scott's giving spree has heavily targeted higher education recently, including large gifts to HBCUs and tribal colleges. College leaders said the infusion offers flexibility to address immediate student needs, but observers note that one‑off philanthropy cannot fully substitute for stable public funding amid ongoing federal and state policy shifts.