The Engineering Summer Bridge program serves as the hallmark transition program for Gallogly College of Engineering and Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy students. Each summer, incoming first-year students descend onto OU’s campus for this four-week, residential program, which seeks to provide students with academic and psychosocial support while equipping them with a wide array of professional skillsets critical to exceling as a student at OU and adequately tackling the challenges facing our world.
The application for Engineering Summer Bridge 2027 will open on November 17!
The Engineering Summer Bridge program has been designed to foster community and connection amongst engineering and science students. Through impactful mentorship with current students, interfacing with industry leaders, and intentional programming with college and campus resources, you will gain invaluable insight on how to navigate your time at OU.
During this one-month on-campus program, you will take a MATH course for OU credit, participate in a team-based engineering design project, and experience what Norman and Oklahoma City have to offer.
The program fee includes all on-campus lodging and meals, tuition and fees, design project supplies, and costs for off-campus programming.
Engineers profoundly shape nearly all aspects of modernized life, from innovative strategies focused on how society interfaces with technology to the deeply intertwined impacts of resource security and environmental sustainability. As the field of engineering continues to wrestle with complex, interconnected global challenges in an ever-changing world, engineers and scientists have been tasked to find solutions that meet both technical and sociopolitical constraints. Pulling inspiration from the poet John Donne, it has become apparent that “no engineer is an island” in and of themselves.
Engineering solutions rarely if ever happen in a bubble; rather, engineers must be capable of working in multidisciplinary teams with a wide range of stakeholders and community partners. To help better prepare Oklahoma’s next generation of engineers and scientists, the University of Oklahoma is dedicated to laying a strong foundation of success for incoming students each summer through the Engineering Summer Bridge program.
Since its inception in 2007, the Engineering Summer Bridge program has supported hundreds of engineers and touts a track record of proven success. Students who participate in this program begin creating their engineering network earlier, which supports them inside and outside the classroom. Engineering Summer Bridge alumni have gone on to lead student organizations across OU, participate in undergraduate research, internships, and co-ops, and have found great success post-graduation at companies like AT&T, Toyota, ExxonMobil, NASA, Chevron, and more.
Engineering Summer Bridge programming is built on three pillars:
Throughout the program, students will participate in a hands-on collaborative project under the leadership of OU Engineering faculty. While previous projects have differed, some examples include designing a splash pad, programming a line-following robot, or developing a water treatment device.
The application for Engineering Summer Bridge 2027 program will open on November 17! Please note that all applications are reviewed at the same time - no priority is given to applications that are completed earlier.
The ESB application does include essays! We recommend students utilize the below document while preparing their essays and application.
You do need to have been admitted to OU in order to apply! Applicants will use their OU login (often called a 4x4) information to access the application, you will need to follow the prompts on the webpage to login using the Single Sign On (SSO). We encourage all students to ensure they have a New Sooner Orientation appointment set before the program starts on June 26 - students can begin scheduling their New Sooner Orientation in February 2027 after they have submitted their Enrollment Deposit.
The fee per student is only $500, but a breakdown of the cost per student can be found below. The program fee includes all on-campus lodging and meals, tuition and fees, design project supplies, and costs for off-campus programming.
Payments cannot be submitted until participants receive notice of their acceptance into Engineering Summer Bridge. Thanks to our corporate partnerships we are able to offer the program at a greatly discounted price for students.
Oklahoma's Promise Students: If you apply and are selected to participate in Engineering Summer Bridge, you will receive a program fee waiver that reduces the registration cost from $500 to $250. This reduced fee supports ESB’s broader commitment to expanding access to engineering education and providing strong early academic and community-based supports for incoming students.
| Costs | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition + Fees | $1,000.05 | $2,812.05 |
| Room + Board | $1,770.00 | $1,770.00 |
| Programming + Supplies | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Comparable Total | $3,770.05 | $5,582.05 |
| Cost to You | $500 | $500 |
Do not send payment to the Bursar’s Office at OU. Detailed instructions regarding payments will be communicated students once they have been accepted into the program. Questions about program payments should be directed to the Engineering Summer Bridge Program team at esb@ou.edu or (405) 325-3905.
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“Before joining ESB, I was unsure what chemical engineers actually do and worried about whether I would succeed in an engineering career. ESB made my transition to OU much smoother by strengthening my time management skills and helping me build a community before the fall semester began. The company visits and encouragement to connect with peers, faculty, and staff were instrumental in my personal and professional growth, particularly in building my confidence in who I want to become and what I want to pursue. The program gave me the tools and support I need to continue progressing through college, and the skills I developed will continue to serve me well throughout my professional career.”
- Kiri Wiggins, Chemical Engineering, Tomball, TX
“The Engineering Summer Bridge program made my transition from high school to college feel seamless. ESB helped me adjust to college life while developing valuable skills, including communicating ideas in team settings, managing my time, and remaining open-minded. Before joining the program, I worried about finding my place, but with the support of ESB counselors and staff, I quickly felt welcomed and became part of the OU engineering community. Building a strong relationship with my ESB counselor has had a lasting impact on how I express my thoughts and manage stress. To any student considering joining the program, I say: do it! The lasting support and relationships you build—not only with your peers but also with ESB counselors and staff—are truly invaluable.”
- Tamar Coleman, Computer Engineering, Oklahoma City, OK
“Participating in the Engineering Summer Bridge program has been one of the best decisions I have made in my journey as an engineering student. As its name suggests, ESB helped me transition smoothly from high school to college by giving me a head start on learning my way around campus, introducing me to resources available to me as both an OU student and an engineering student, and helping me build meaningful connections with faculty, staff, and peers. I especially appreciated the emphasis on early professional development and networking with company representatives. Most importantly, ESB taught me to be intentional about my engineering journey by taking full advantage of the opportunities available to me so I can continue growing both personally and professionally as an engineer.”
- Lauren Ashe, Mechanical Engineering, Pearland, TX
Each year, these corporate partnerships help fund scholarships, social activities, and the programmatic elements that make Engineering Summer Bridge such a phenomenal program. Interested in becoming a corporate partner? Reach out to the Director of the Engineering Summer Bridge Program, Brandon Abbott, at brandonabbott@ou.edu.
Contact the Engineering Summer Bridge team at esb@ou.edu or call (405) 325-3905
Director
Program Cordinator
Graduate Assistant
After the application deadline, students should expect to receive a response from our staff around May 1, 2027. You will receive a response through your OU email. We encourage all students to ensure they have a New Sooner Orientation appointment set before the program starts on June 26.
After you have been accepted into the Engineering Summer Bridge program, an email will be sent to your OU email around May 1, 2027. Please make sure you read through the e-mail and complete the necessary forms on time. The email will contain forms for you to complete and bring with you to the Engineering Summer Bridge check-in.
If you are accepted and have trouble downloading the documents in the confirmation e-mail, please contact the Engineering Summer Bridge team at esb@ou.edu. You will want to ensure any emails have not been sent to a spam folder.
First, read ALL of the program emails. Make sure all your registration paperwork has been completed. Do not forget to bring the paperwork to check-in! Secondly, please register and attend your New Sooner Orientation before the program starts. Then, get excited for the fun to begin! We encourage all students to ensure they have a New Sooner Orientation appointment set before the program starts on June 26.
Students will be staying in one of the on-campus residential halls. Do not forget to bring sheets for an extra-long twin-size bed, toiletries, towels, tennis shoes, jeans, and swimsuits. For a complete list of what to pack for Engineering Summer Bridge, please refer to your acceptance packet.
The Engineering Summer Bridge program offers free airport shuttle service to and from Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. This service will only be provided on the first day of the program (move-in) and the last day of the program (move-out). To request shuttle service, please mark on your information packet form that you will be arriving by air and need shuttle service. One of our staff members will contact you for further travel information.
Free airport transportation to campus will only be provided on the first and last day of the program between specified times. We provide this as a service for all of our students who are flying in from out-of-state.
*Note – Early arrival to the program is not allowed. We are only able to accommodate lodging for the program dates, so please book/plan travel accordingly!
If this is your situation, our program does not accommodate for students arriving early. Students will need to make their own accommodation arrangements prior to check-in for the Engineering Summer Bridge program.
Yes! Our staff will coordinate a date and time for students to enroll in their Fall classes and will notify the student of the details. However, we HIGHLY encourage completing your New Sooner Orientation before the start date of the program.
No. The Engineering Summer Bridge program requires students’ FULL participation for the entire duration of the program — no exceptions.
No. Students will not be allowed to leave campus, or the program, for any reason—no exceptions. The program director should be made aware of any questions or concerns regarding personal conflicts during the program dates as soon as possible.
I have already applied and been accepted to the program and can no longer attend. What do I need to do? Please email the Engineering Summer Bridge Program staff at esb@ou.edu to let us know.
