FAQs
These OU academic degrees all rank in the Top 10 nationally: meteorology (national weather center is on campus), petroleum engineering, ballet, musical theatre, entrepreneurship, international business, energy management, and journalism.
OU offers 170 degree programs with incomparable learning experiences to prepare you for success beyond college. Our state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge research opportunities and innovative academic environment set us apart from other universities. Some of our most recognized degree programs include:
- Meteorology - The OU School of Meteorology is consistently praised as a world leader in mesoscale, severe storms and radar research. The School is ranked among the top five programs overall in research funding.
- Petroleum Engineering - Our world-class research, state-of-the-art laboratories, and renowned faculty enhance the student experience by providing real-world perspectives that allow MPGE students to gain first-hand knowledge and expertise throughout their time at OU.
- Health Sciences - The OU Health Sciences Center, which is located in Oklahoma City, includes seven comprehensive professional colleges- Allied Health, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Graduate Studies.
- Ballet & Modern Dance (School of Dance) - Dance magazine ranks OU’s School of Dance among the TOP 3 in the nation! The School of Dance’s two companies have gained world-renowned reputations for their performances.
- Entrepreneurship and Venture Management - The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine recently ranked OU's entrepreneurship program one of the best in the nation!
- Journalism - The Gaylord College was chosen as a partner school by the Scripps Howard Foundation enabling OU students to receive special grants and internships. Journalism students compete with others across the nation for internships in major markets.
- Energy Management - Energy Management has been recognized at the national level for its change from petroleum land management to a program that addresses and trains professionals for careers in an industry that is constantly growing in size and technology
- Honors College - OU's Honors College ranks in the top 25 Honors Colleges in the country.
Cost of attendance for residents and non-residents can be found by clicking here.
- OU’s tuition and fees remain near the bottom of the Big 12 conference. The Princeton Review ranks OU among the best in the nation in terms of academic excellence and cost for students.
- OU does not have reciprocity agreements with bordering states.
- To save students money throughout their OU career, we have a flat-rate tuition program. This program allows full-time undergraduate students to enroll up to 21 credit hours and only pay for 15.
Scholarships - Priority deadline is December 15!
Students must apply by the December 15 priority deadline to ensure they are considered for general freshman scholarships. Applications received after the scholarship deadline will be considered for scholarship on an availability basis. Academic merit-based scholarships are determined on a rolling basis after admission. To be considered for leadership, community involvement and some departmental scholarships, submit the Common Application and OU supplemental questions or the OU Application by the scholarship deadline.
Review Academic, Leadership and Community Service Scholarships for residents and non-residents by visiting our Resources page.
Most states have residency requirements in order to provide lower in-state costs to full-time tax paying state residents. Oklahoma requires that a student (or at least one parent who is a state resident) permanently and continuously live in Oklahoma as a primary residence for at least one year prior to the student’s first day of class. The student may not count the time they are attending classes as part of that residency.
Residency aside, we have some great merit scholarships that can help offset some of the costs.
Apply for financial aid at: fafsa.ed.gov
To ensure that you keep all of your options open for covering your cost to attend OU, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) starting October 1.
OU's FAFSA Code is 003184
It is important to note that many students and parents don’t understand the difference between scholarships and financial aid. Often times when students and parents ask about “scholarships” or “financial aid” they are asking generally about financial assistance through grants, loans, scholarships, and even employment.
Scholarships are generally given through universities, though not always. Sometimes a student will be awarded outside scholarships from companies or nonprofits that they can bring to OU (think Coca-Cola or a Rotary Club award).
Financial Aid is awarded via the federal government (FAFSA) through grants, loans and work study.
OU does not have “automatic admissions.” In the past at OU, and currently at many other institutions, students with a certain GPA and test score combination are guaranteed admission. We’ve moved away from this to allow for a more holistic approach.
Please refer to the Admissions Process tab to review our holistic review process.
Living on campus means that you are at the center of the university experience, including support, friends and convenience. Creating a sense of family matters at OU and the residence halls will soon be your home away from home. All freshmen are guaranteed rooms and have several options from which to choose. So yes - it is a requirement that freshman students live on campus. To learn more about living on campus, visit Housing & Food's website.
Yes, freshmen are welcome to bring their cars to campus; however, parking spaces are limited. All vehicles require a parking permit which can be purchased from Parking Services.
“Big Yet Small" - There are countless opportunities that come with a Public, Flagship Research Institution, but OU still small enough you can have a large impact as as student and have a close-knit community. OU faculty and staff care about the success of our students.
Academic Excellence - OU has several programs ranked in the top 10 nationally. To review each college's top 10 reasons why to consider their college, click here.
Education Abroad - Nearly 30% of OU students study abroad during their time at OU. Students can choose from over 1,000 programs in 200 cities from 80 countries. Learn more by clicking here.
Student Life
- There is an organization for everyone! If you can’t find one of the 400 student groups to get involved in, start your own organization! All it takes is you, 9 friends, and one staff/faculty advisor to create your own student organization.
- Giving back to the community is important to Sooners (creating global citizens):
– Campus Activities Council’s event Soonerthon raised more that 1 million dollars for the Children’s Miracle Network in 2018. This is an event where nearly 3,000 college students stand on their feet for 12 hours for kids who can’t.
– Big Event is the campus’s largest day of community service. Over 5,000 members of the OU student body gather together on day in the spring to serve the Norman and Greater Oklahoma City area.
When a student asks you this question, use it as an opportunity to talk about campus life and your own experiences. Think about your interests and your student's interests, your background and what opportunities and experiences you would like to highlight.
The University is located in Norman, Oklahoma — a classic college town (yet the third largest city in Oklahoma)! Known for having a safe environment and being a supportive community to the University, Norman offers a great atmosphere to build college memories that last for a lifetime. Students can enjoy free concerts, festivals, art walks and NCAA athletic events during the entire school year.
USA Today, People Magazine and The Washington Times are some of our favorites that have recently praised the pleasant surprise that is Oklahoma City. Located a quick 25 minutes up Interstate 35, students can enjoy Oklahoma City Thunder, Dodgers or Energy FC games and the unique cultures and cuisine found in The Paseo, The Plaza District, Midtown and Automobile Alley neighborhoods. Outdoor enthusiasts also can take advantage of kayaking, bike trails, paddleboarding and more!
OU offers campus tours Monday through Friday at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. with select Saturday tours. Students can sign up online by clicking here and can also schedule academic-specific tours or information sessions.
Note: Encourage top students and students travelling from distances greater than 400 miles to work with their individual admissions counselor to schedule a campus tour so we can roll out the red carpet
OU is committed to providing its students, faculty and staff with a safe learning and working environment. Programs like SafeWALK and SafeRIDE are there to help. In light of incidents on other campuses and to further enhance responsiveness, OU has also established a 24-hour Reporting Hotline.
The OU Honors College is an excellent place for students who wish to challenge themselves academically. Classes are small (22 or fewer students in each class) and lead by renowned faculty members from across the university.
Students can apply for the Honors College as incoming freshmen, but can also apply as a current student if certain academic requirements are met. It is not too late to graduate with Honors if not eligible as an incoming freshman student.
OU is a leader among all American universities in international exchange and study abroad programs. OU has expanded Study Abroad programs to include popular programs in Arezzo, Italy; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Puebla, Mexico. One in three OU students study abroad during a four-year period. OU currently offers programs in 79 countries and over 223 cities in six continents.
OU currently offers programs in more than 50 countries and 100 cities on six continents. We also have our own campuses located in Arezzo, Italy; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Puebla, Mexico. Students can take advantage of scholarship opportunities and even reciprocal programs where you can pay OU tuition & fees to study abroad.
Yes, OU encourages capable students to seek prior learning assessment credit for knowledge they may have acquired in a variety of ways including AP, Dual Credit, IB and CLEP.
There are a lot of student jobs available on campus that pay well and are very flexible (if students are needing additional financial support to pay for college, encourage them to consider working on campus.) Link to jobs.ou.edu.
Football and men’s basketball tickets are a lottery system for freshmen. All other sports free with their Sooner Card (student ID).
