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Progress

South Oval on University of Oklahoma campus.

Class of
2028

This marks the fourth consecutive year for OU to have record-breaking freshman classes.
Class of 2028 students stand smiling while they attend the Class Kickoff at the Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

5,593

Students

3.63

Average High School GPA

25.5%

First-Generation Students

Changing Lives as Oklahoma’s Leading Research Engine

Driven by the talent of our world-class research enterprise, our rising momentum reflects our ambition to drive research at the University of Oklahoma to unsurpassed heights in pursuit of life-changing discoveries. A sampling of highlights are provided below.

Impressive Research Growth

OU’s 14.7% average annual research growth rate ranks amongst the nation’s highest for FY19-22.

When considering only universities with over $200 million in annual research growth (a cohort of 129 institutions), OU ranks No. 4 in the Nation / No. 3 Among Public Universities.

$210.4 million in research funding. That represents a 33% increase from previous fiscal year. Interlocking OU logo, Vice President for Research and Partnerships at The University of Oklahoma logo.

University of Oklahoma Breaks All-Time Record for Sponsored Research Growth

July 17, 2023

The University of Oklahoma has broken another record, setting a new all-time high for sponsored research awards to its Norman campus. Sponsored research, or research funded by organizations outside of the university, is a vital part of the mission of large public research universities to create and disseminate new knowledge that impacts society and changes lives.


The University of Oklahoma Ranks Among Top Patent-Holding Universities

September 12, 2023

The University of Oklahoma is the only university in the state to have ranked among the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2022, a list published by the National Academy of Inventors. This new list was created to highlight and celebrate American innovation and to showcase the role universities play in advancing the innovation ecosystem within the U.S. and beyond. OU ranked No. 72.

OU Rises in National Research Ranking

December 15, 2023

The University of Oklahoma climbed one spot, from No. 72 to No. 71, in the nation for overall research expenditures, according to the recently published Higher Education Research and Development survey from the National Science Foundation. OU remains No. 1 in the country for the fourth year in a row for atmospheric science and meteorology and among the top 8% of research universities in the nation for the second year.

Creating Oklahoma’s First Comprehensive Academic Health System

OU Health building in Oklahoma City.

The historic merger in 2021 to create OU Health has brought immense benefits to our state and its people. As Oklahoma’s first comprehensive academic health system, OU Health is delivering world-class health care, training tomorrow’s health professionals, and meeting the toughest medical challenges with pioneering research and innovation.

Researcher in lab.
Students walking in hospital.
Doctor and nurse talk to patient.

Bringing Sooner Magic to the SEC

SEC logo.

OU’s milestone decision to join the Southeastern Conference on July 1, 2024, marks a strategic step forward for the entire university, impacting far more than just athletics. 

At its core, joining the SEC aligns with our Strategic Plan, serving as a catalyst for substantial investment in academics and research. Moving to the SEC not only places OU on the finest stage in collegiate sports, it ensures we remain one of the handful of schools where neither students nor the state pays for athletics.

 

Keeping OU’s Excellence Affordable and Attainable

A key tenet of the Strategic Plan is to provide an education that is excellent, affordable, and accessible to anyone with the will and talent to pursue it – and we’ve kept our promise to offer a world-class education at a great value. A few examples on the Norman campus include: 

 

Focus on Affordability


  • Decreased the average annual cost of net tuition and fees by 5% for Oklahoma undergraduate residents, compared to five years ago (AY19)
  • Grew need-based aid 38%, or $19 million, in the last five years

Strategic Faculty Hiring


  • Authorized 91 new regular faculty positions, including 42 for engineering 
  • Over last five years, the number of full-time instructional faculty has grown by 134, or 11%

Staffing Investments to Serve Students


  • Nearly doubled Career Center staff
  • Implemented career growth pathway for academic advisors and student recruiters

Graduate Student Recruitment


  • Lowered graduate assistant student fees by $3,480 per year through fee cuts, compared to six years ago
  • Authorized a 63% increase to graduate assistant minimum pay scale for July 1, 2024

Transformative Fundraising to Create the OU of the Future

OU Launches Historic $2 Billion “Lead On” Fundraising Campaign

With a historic goal of raising $2 billion, “Lead On: The University of Oklahoma’s Campaign for the Future” builds upon OU’s core traditions while striving to reach new heights of excellence. 

In alignment with the “Lead On, University” Strategic Plan, the campaign prioritizes:

  • $500 million toward increasing access through enhanced student support and programming
  • $300 million toward fostering faculty growth
  • Creating research opportunities
  • Encouraging a welcoming campus culture

Campaign Milestones


We surpassed the $1 billion mark in 2024 and monumental gifts have led to:

  • Enhanced academic excellence
  • More student scholarships and research fellowships in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, which provides three-quarters of the university’s general education curriculum.
  • Significant campus enhancements through renovations at the historic Armory and the Jones Family Welcome Center at Jacobson Hall along with the creation of Love’s Field, a state-of-the-art softball facility.
  • Fostering connections between students and industry partners through programs like the OU Polytechnic Institute in Tulsa and the Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth at Price College of Business in Norman.
  • Advancing OU's research initiatives, facilitating breakthroughs in fields such as physics and material sciences, advanced radar, storm prediction and global security, and energy and the environment.
  • Doubling enrollment at the School of Aviation and bolstering the university's aircraft fleet.
  • Winning 10 Davis Cup titles for the largest freshman class of United World College Scholars in the U.S.
  • Significantly boosted faculty support and doubled student enrollment in the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing.

Scholarships and Aid


Student support is the campaign's top priority.

  • As of March 4: Donors have contributed more than $330 million toward the overall campaign of $500 million for student support.

7-Year Campaign Timeline


  • Quiet Phase Begins: July 1, 2020 
  • Public Phase Begins: October 14, 2022 
  • Campaign Concludes: June 30, 2027

Unprecedented Fundraising Momentum

The Strategic Plan has launched a new era of fundraising at OU

104%

Increase in Fundraising

Fiscal Year 2011 to Fiscal Year 2020, $134.9 million was the previous 10-year fundraising average.
Fiscal Year 2021 to Fiscal Year 2023, $275.1 million was the three-year annual average raised during the "Lead On" campaign.

Fiscal Year

Total Dollars Raised Annually

Total Dollars Raised Annually for Student Support

Total Number of Annual $1M+ Gifts

Total Value of Annual $1M+ Gifts

FY21$252M$48.6M18$165.4M
FY22$312.4M$44.7M54$207.1M
FY23$260.9M$34.5M56$143.9M
FY27 Goal$400M$100M85$300M

Key Workforce Initiatives

OU’s workforce strategy leverages our academic strengths, ensuring our graduates have the best opportunities for job placement while supporting Oklahoma’s workforce needs. In recent years, OU has significantly expanded student enrollment in several key academic areas to support the state’s workforce demands. 

Man looking at a plane at the Max Westheimer airport.

Aviation

Compared to AY2022, freshman enrollment in OU’s top-ranked aviation programs has more than doubled, and the school’s total enrollment has grown 48%. OU aims to increase enrollment in aviation programs to 600 students within the next four years.

Man looking at a computer screen, with a woman working on a computer in the background.

OU Polytechnic Institute

The OU Polytechnic Institute at OU-Tulsa officially opened its doors in Fall 2024, with plans to offer bachelor’s degree completion and graduate programs in critical STEM fields. From cutting-edge curriculum to on-site training, the OU Polytechnic Institute will help meet the changing academic and workforce needs of the Tulsa region.

Nursing student speaking with doctors in a hospital setting.

Nursing

Enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has increased 73% compared to Fall 2020, and across all Health Sciences academic programs, new student enrollment is up 16% over AY2022. 

Rankings and Accolades

Scholars: 2019-Present


1

Rhodes
Scholar


10

Goldwater Scholars


25

Fulbright
Recipients


6

Tillman
Scholars


2

Boren
Fellows


5

Boren
Scholars


3

Udall
Scholars


2

Cooke
Scholars


1

Luce
Scholar


1

Marshall
Scholar


1

Mitchell
Scholar


1

Rangel
Scholar

Rankings Highlights: 2022-2024

People standing and sitting around laptops.

No. 1 University in Oklahoma

U.S. News and World Report
2024 Best Colleges

An impressive storm system with an aqua hail core and large wall cloud.

No. 1 Best Meteorology Program

OutstandingColleges.com
2022

An airplane in front of the control tower at Max Westheimer Airport.

No. 1 Aviation Program

FLYING Magazine 2022

The Seed Sower statue on the University of Oklahoma's Health Sciences campus.

No. 1 Employer in Oklahoma

Forbes America's Best
Large Employers List 2022

No. 2 Journalism Program

Broadcast Education Assoc. 2022


OU Honored with Two Diversity Awards

INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine

Driving Excellence: University-Wide Strategic Research Verticals

In support of “Lead On, University,” four Strategic Research Verticals serve as the foundation for OU’s research and creative activity strategy. 


Aerospace, Defense, and Global Security

President Joe Harroz speaks at the Sooner Advanced Manufacturing Lab opening event.
Map of the world with lines linking different parts of the world to eachother.

Environment, Energy, and Sustainability


The Future of Health

Scientist looking at vials in a lab, wearing a lab coat, gloves, and goggles.

Society and Community Transformation

A woman sits on the floor with two small children, playing and smiling with eachother.

OU Online Growth Increases Access for All

Launched in June 2020, OU Online embarked on a mission to extend the university’s reach by providing high-quality, affordable graduate degrees to students worldwide. Since that time, several of these programs have ranked among the best in the nation, including by U.S. News & World Report

OU Online Programs

Degrees Offered: Fall 2020: 27; Fall 2022: 40; Spring 2024: 51 (planned)

Program Growth Forecast

Program growth forecast: 2020-21, 2,142; 2021-22, 2,780; 2022-23, 3,032; 2023-24, 3,456.

Graduate Enrollment

Graduate enrollment from OU Online: 2020-21 to 2021-22: 30% increase; 2021-22 to 2022-23: 9% increase; 2022-23 to 2023-24: 14% increase.

Adult Degree Completion Program

In early 2023, OU Online expanded its range of educational offerings to include undergraduate students. This Degree Completion Program, offered in partnership with the OU College of Professional and Continuing Studies, features five online undergraduate degrees, all designed to meet workforce demands. In Fall 2023, the program welcomed 130 new undergraduate students who are determined to finish their bachelor’s degrees online. 

A New Era for Housing

Timeline


2021

OU acquires Cross Village, the largest addition to first-year housing in 60 years, allowing OU to accelerate its housing plan by four years


2023

Adams Center is demolished, making way for the construction of two new residential buildings to house 1,150 first-year students


2025

Fall 2025 North Building scheduled to open


2026

Fall 2026 South Building scheduled to open

 

 

Enhancing Support Services for Students

Academics and Student Enrichment

OU has developed a comprehensive system that provides complete assistance to on-campus and online students throughout their academic journey, from application to graduation. 

These opportunities include: 

  • Tutoring services
  • Writing Center
  • Student organizations and online affinity groups
  • Academic Success Center (Starting July 2024)

Re-Envisioned Career Center

people-line

The OU Career Center has modernized its comprehensive approach to provide students with best-in-class career preparation. With a renewed strategy, the Career Center’s evolution include:

  • Nearly doubling staff to over 20 full-time employees
  • Renovated workspaces to better serve students
  • Introduction of Career Communities, a new networking and career exploration model
  • Reimagined Corporate Partner Program   

chart-line

OU Online has created a robust Career Development Center, a free resource to help students and alumni explore career options, find community and apply for jobs in their field. The platform integrates

  • Handshake
  • OU Connection
  • LinkedIn Learning
  • Labor Market Insights
  • Career Resources
  • Up-to-date Articles, Blogs and News 

Increased Mental Health Support

conversation bubles
 

A new partnership with TELUS Health in Spring 2024 provides free, confidential mental health counseling and support 24/7 to all Norman-based students and OU Online students. Features include:

  • Accessible via app, telephone, and web.
  • On-demand counseling, scheduled sessions, crisis support, and self-help resources.
  • Available in multiple languages and uncapped counseling sessions.
  • Builds upon on-campus services offered through the University Counseling Center.

OU Food Pantry Expansion

Basket Shopping

In Fall 2022, the OU Food Pantry moved to a new, larger location and expanded its hours to better serve members of the OU community.

Mission: To contribute to the overall health and wellness of the OU campus community by providing free supplemental food assistance and resources to students, faculty, and staff.

Growth: Nine student founders in 2017 to 82 student staff members in Fall 2023.

Expansion: Fall 2022: Expanded hours to be open three days a week instead of two, and moved to a new, larger location at Cate Main, offering more food, clothing, books, and fresh produce.

Investment in Graduate Education

Professor talking to students in a classroom.

$6.2

Million

OU has announced an unprecedented $6.2 million investment to increase base stipends for graduate assistants in Norman-based academic programs. This base stipend increase, combined with the cuts to annual graduate assistant fees on the Norman campus, allows OU to fully close the gap with peer institutions, fulfill its promise as a top-tier public research university, and recruit exceptional students to fill the growing needs of Oklahoma and the nation.

Fostering Community Engagement

To support OU’s emphasis on impactful learning experiences beyond the classroom, in Fall 2023 OU launched GivePulse, an online platform for students, faculty, and staff to find volunteer opportunities; facilitate community engagement; measure economic impact; and manage student organizations, events, and fundraisers.

Real-time data as of March 22, 2024:

10,538

Instances of Engagement

2,200+

Users Joined

$80,000+

Hours of Service


$2,242,238

Economic Impact

Assessing the OU Experience

To continually improve the OU experience, the university has deployed a variety of tools to understand the perspectives and needs of students, faculty, and staff. Comprehensive surveys developed by the SERU (Student Experience in the Research University) Consortium have provided invaluable insights into the experiences of undergraduate and graduate students, leading to notable improvements at OU, such as 24/7 access to professional counseling services through TELUS Health. Additionally, OU is launching an Employee Engagement Survey in Spring 2024, administered by Gallup.

 

Championing Free Speech and Inquiry

Exterior of Evans Hall on the Norman, OK. Campus.

OU Board of Regents Adopts Chicago Statement

The Chicago Statement is an overarching set of guiding principles that reinforce the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression on college campuses. The Statement coincides with OU’s existing policies on free expression and academic freedom, and its adoption indicates the university’s continued commitment to upholding these constitutional rights while nurturing an inclusive campus community. 

More Research Achievements