To be a first-generation college student means that your parents or guardians have not completed a four-year degree, even if you have a sibling or other immediate family member who has pursued or earned a bachelor's degree.
Learn more about what life is like at OU as first-generation student by exploring the roadmap below!
One in Four
of incoming OU students of fall 2024 identified as first-generation, meaning over one in four first-year students are part of the first-generation community.
25.4%
of the freshman class are
first-generation college students.
27.1%
of OU students are
first-generation college students.
*This includes undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on the Norman campus.
It is okay to feel unsure or lost, but when you do, use the resources the University has provided. Go to office hours, visit the writing center, and explore all the opportunities and student organizations. Being a first-generation student can feel lonely, but really, there are so many people cheering you on and ready to help."
Andrea Juarez
Biology, pre-med
From Putnam City, Oklahoma
Frequently Asked Questions for
To be a first-generation college student means that your parents or guardians have not completed a four-year degree, even if you have a sibling or other immediate family member who has pursued or earned a bachelor's degree.
Yes, you will be considered a first-generation student regardless if your parents or guardians started a degree but did not complete it. If your parents or guardians did not complete a four-year degree, regardless of other family members' levels of education, you are a first-generation student.
Knowing this distinction is important so you can learn about and utilized the resources OU has for first-generation students.
Every student is assigned an OU Admissions Counselor based on your school, area of study, or country. Your admissions counselor is here to help you explore academic options and answer any application or post-admission questions you and your family have. Your admissions counselor is a great resource to reach out to during your college search journey!
If you want to learn more about OU, there are all kinds of options, but we recommend taking a tour of campus so you can picture yourself as a student at OU. Most walking tours last two and a half hours, and are led by one of our distinguished OU student tour guides to learn about the incredible academic programs and involvement opportunities at OU. You will be able to see our state-of-the-art facilities, historic buildings, two residence hall options, and a few student hubs that showcase the OU community and spirit. Register for a campus visit today!
If you can't make it to Norman, you can also go on a virtual tour of campus!
At OU, our student can choose whatever path interests them with over 170+ degree choices and 500+ student organizations to pick from. Being an OU student is whatever you make it, and whatever you do during your time here will become part of our collective legacy. To learn more about current student life, check out our Sooner Stories blog.
Project Threshold is part of the OU TRIO Center
The TRIO Center at the University of Oklahoma seeks to become a local, regional, and national leader in empowering underserved students by addressing barriers to success and broadening access to post-secondary education, resulting in increased degree completion and career readiness pathways.
The TRIO Center’s mission is to support our participant’s growth and development by offering academic support, personal guidance, financial aid assistance, leadership opportunities, and multicultural experiences in a nurturing environment. We are a student-centered pillar of support committed to student success and graduation.
You can schedule a 1:1 appointment with a current student to chat about their experience and life on campus! With a variety of competitive activities to participate in, dozens of events to attend, and hundreds of student organizations to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down your interests. Schedule your appointment!
Frequently Asked Questions for
From Action Tutoring to the OU Writing Center to the Math Learning Center, OU has free tutoring and academic assistance for students across all majors. For instance, Action Tutoring covers over 90 subjects, OU Writing Center will assist you at any point in your writing process, and the Math Learning Center will help you in your gen-ed math courses.
Every student is different, and because of that, we gathered the thoughts of students across campus on what they chose to bring to campus on move-in day! Discover what you'll be packing for OU as a freshman student!
1 in 4 students of OU's 2025 freshman class identified as first-generation students! Learn more about our most recent freshman class profile!
Yes! Students can work 10-20 hours and earn $7.25-$10 per hour at an on-campus job. You must be enrolled during the semester for which you're seeking employment. Looking for an on-campus job that builds your professional skills? Students that have financial need may qualify for the Learn & Earn Student Jobs Program.
On-campus jobs for an upcoming semester are posted in the months leading up to the semester.
In her sophomore year at OU, Chabelli Mendoza was invited to share her experience as a first-generation student. Watch her video to discover how she found her home away from home on campus.
Stay up-to-date with everything OU by joining our mailing list! You will receive information about academics, scholarships, admissions, student life, and more.
Explore OU's first-generation resources, upcoming events, and more through OU's first-generation page dedicated to all future and current students.
As a member of the FirstGen Network, OU was chosen based our commitment to improving the college journey and advancing the futures and careers of our first-generation student population.
