NEWS
NORMAN, Okla. – Historic demand for a University of Oklahoma education continues to drive record enrollment growth, expanding OU’s reach across the state and fueling generational impact for Oklahoma. At the center of that momentum is the largest freshman class in state and university history, with a record 6,437 students joining the Class of 2030 this fall. The milestone marks OU’s sixth consecutive year of record-setting freshman enrollment, a sustained streak that has driven a 45% growth in incoming class sizes over that span and contributing to the university’s fastest enrollment surge in five decades. This is also the fourth straight year the university has set a new record for Oklahoma freshmen.
“There has never been a more exciting time to be a Sooner,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “At a time when universities across the country are struggling, OU is experiencing remarkable momentum. Students and families recognize the extraordinary value of an OU education – an unparalleled experience inside and outside the classroom, exceptional academic opportunities and a degree that opens doors for a lifetime. Just as importantly, we are proving that excellence and affordability can go hand in hand, keeping the American Dream within reach for more Oklahoma families. This is a defining moment for our university. We are growing in size, strength, reach and impact, and we are just getting started.”
OU’s record growth is also expanding access to higher education for students and families across Oklahoma. First-generation students make up 28% of the Class of 2030 – an OU record – and among Oklahoma freshmen, approximately 37% are the first in their families to attend college. OU is also welcoming 917 students who qualify for Oklahoma’s Promise, a 19% increase over last year, while programs such as Crimson Commitment provide additional support for Oklahoma students with the greatest need.
That growth in access has been matched by OU’s commitment to keeping a college degree within reach for Oklahoma families. Over the past seven years, student aid has grown significantly faster than tuition, helping drive down the average annual net tuition and fee cost for OU resident undergraduates by 20%. During that same period, need-based aid has increased 39% and scholarship support for resident undergraduates has increased 38%. Today, 58% of OU undergraduates graduate debt-free, compared to 45% nationally.
OU’s historic growth is also being fueled by some of Oklahoma’s highest-achieving students. This year’s freshman class includes 137 Oklahoma State Regents’ Scholars, a 17% increase over last year, along with 702 students who earned a 4.0 GPA or higher and 299 who graduated first in their high school class.
“As we welcome the largest group of first-year students in our university's history, we're energized by the potential they bring and the success they'll achieve both inside and outside the classroom,” said Jeff Blahnik, vice president for Enrollment Management and Chief Enrollment Officer. “These students are joining a university deeply committed to preparing them for impactful careers, lifelong learning and leadership in a rapidly evolving world. This historic freshman class marks more than just a record; it's a powerful signal of OU's momentum and the bright future we're building together.”
As enrollment continues to grow, OU is making significant investments in the facilities and infrastructure that support its service to the state and student experience. South Hall, OU’s newest residence hall, opened this fall with approximately 580 beds for incoming first-year students, following the opening of the 560-bed McCasland Hall last year. The university is also making progress on its new Life Sciences Laboratories Building, a 105,000-square-foot facility that will include 25 state-of-the-art teaching labs, a 250-seat auditorium, and modern classroom and research spaces. OU is also planning a new five-level parking garage with more than 650 spaces as part of broader efforts to modernize campus infrastructure and meet the needs of a growing university.
In December, the new Oklahoma Children’s OU Health Behavioral Health Center will open on the OU Health Campus. The new facility will offer a re-imagined way of delivering care to some of the most vulnerable children across the state, including direct access to pediatricians and pediatric hospitalists. This will allow the center to accept patients with complex chronic medical issues who would otherwise be denied the care they need.
The Class of 2030 was celebrated Sunday evening at the annual Class Kickoff event at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Class of 2030 statistics:
Final enrollment reports for the semester will be available the third week of classes. Data from previous years can be found through OU’s Office of Institutional Research and Reporting.
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 healthcare needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
Historic demand for a University of Oklahoma education continues to drive record enrollment growth, expanding OU’s reach across the state and fueling generational impact for Oklahoma. At the center of that momentum is the largest freshman class in state and university history, with a record 6,437 students joining the Class of 2030 this fall.
With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the University of Oklahoma is helping build AI into the future of American science. Two OU-led research teams have been awarded nearly $1.4 million in funding under the DOE’s Genesis Mission, with a third researcher providing significant support for a Genesis Mission project being led by Los Alamos National Laboratory.
For the second year in a row, the University of Oklahoma is the No. 1 university to work for in the state of Oklahoma, according to Forbes and maintained its position as No. 6 in the magazine’s annual list of America’s Best Employers by State.
