NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma is the No. 1 university to work for in the state of Oklahoma, according to Forbes.
This year, OU’s overall ranking climbed six spots to No.6 in the magazine’s annual list of Best Employers by State, which recognizes employers with at least 500 employees.
“Being recognized as one of the top employers in the state is an incredible honor,” said Dorothy Anderson, vice president and chief human resources officer. “At OU, we pride ourselves on creating an environment where not only our students, but also our employees, can thrive. This recognition reflects the supportive culture and strong sense of community that make our university such a rewarding place to build a career.”
For four consecutive years, the university has offered a merit-based raise program to eligible employees, helping OU to recruit and retain top faculty and staff. This dedication to rewarding excellence is complemented by a comprehensive package of benefits including, paid parental leave, an expansion of paid holidays, employee and dependent educational benefits, career development opportunities, wellness programs and employee discounts.
The acknowledgment is measured through an independent survey of 160,000 U.S. employees and considers every aspect of the employee experience.
To compile the rankings, Forbes partnered with Statista, an online statistics provider, to conduct an independent voluntary survey. Participants were asked how likely they were to recommend their employer to others and to evaluate their workplace based on working conditions, salary and advancement opportunities. The participants also evaluated their previous employers and other organizations they were aware of within their industry or through family or friends who work there.
The complete Best Employers by State 2025 list is available on the Forbes website.
To learn more about career at the University of Oklahoma and to view current job openings, visit jobs.ou.edu.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
Three University of Oklahoma graduate students have been named winners of the 2025 Three Minute Thesis competition, which challenges participants to explain their research in three minutes to a non-specialist audience.
Sarah Sharif, a researcher with the University of Oklahoma, has been awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to create innovative light detectors that pick up mid-wave and long-wave infrared signals at higher temperatures than previously considered achievable.
A team from OU and WVU recently earned a five-year, $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how concept cigarillos influence the potential for addiction. The results will be used to inform the FDA’s impending flavor ban on cigar products and could have wider-reaching implications for other tobacco products that come in flavors, such as e-cigarettes and tobacco-free nicotine pouches.
