5,593
Students
3.63
Average High School GPA
25.5%
First-Generation Students
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
We surpassed the $1 billion mark in 2024 and monumental gifts have led to:
Student support is the campaign's top priority.
104%
Increase in Fundraising
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| FY21 | $252M | $48.6M | 18 | $165.4M | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FY22 | $312.4M | $44.7M | 54 | $207.1M | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FY23 | $260.9M | $34.5M | 56 | $143.9M | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FY27 Goal | $400M | $100M | 85 | $300M | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
U.S. News and World Report
2024 Best Colleges
Forbes
2023
No. 1 Best Meteorology Program
OutstandingColleges.com
2022
FLYING Magazine 2022
Forbes America's Best
Large Employers List 2022
Broadcast Education Assoc. 2022
In support of “Lead On, University,” four Strategic Research Verticals serve as the foundation for OU’s research and creative activity strategy.
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.
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.
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
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:
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:
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
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:
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.
$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.
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.
10,538
Instances of Engagement
2,200+
Users Joined
$80,000+
Hours of Service
$2,242,238
Economic Impact
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.
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.
