Dear OU Community,
For more than 130 years, the University of Oklahoma has been committed to providing students an education that is both exceptional and affordable. It’s a sacrosanct promise we have long honored, and it remains the beacon that continues to guide our success today.
By most every measure, we have reason to celebrate.
Today, a degree from the University of Oklahoma is more affordable than it was five years ago. At a time when the cost of higher education is skyrocketing at other institutions nationwide, over the past five years we have managed to increase need-based aid by 38%, enhance the number of scholarships awarded to students by more than 20%, and reaffirmed our commitment to keeping our operating costs in check. Because of these efforts, 56% of undergraduate students graduate from our university debt-free, compared to 45% at four-year public universities nationwide.
OU’s commitment to keep a college degree affordable and attainable, especially for those with the greatest need, is profound and has translated into real cost-savings. In the last five years, resident freshmen have seen a nearly 30% reduction in net tuition and fees, resulting in more than $1,500 in annual savings. This success, however, does not come without making difficult choices, including preparing a university budget for the 2024-2025 academic year approved by our Board of Regents today that includes modest increases to tuition and mandatory fees. For the Norman campus, including our Law programs, this means a 3% increase for undergraduate and graduate students, and our Health Sciences programs will see tuition increases between 3-5%, depending on the program.
These tuition decisions are never easy, but they are necessary to allow us to invest in several critical priorities outlined in our “Lead On, University” Strategic Plan, including, in part, a merit-based raise program for faculty and staff for the third year in a row that will help us recruit and retain the best available talent in a competitive environment. We also continue to invest in our graduate students with increased stipends and in our physical infrastructure with critical upgrades.
These strategic investments, coupled with a continually growing research enterprise that is helping change the world in ways big and small, an academic health system that is serving the health care needs of the state, and a commitment to ensuring students are well prepared for their chosen career following graduation, is what is expected of a leading public research university. And our work is paying dividends. For last year and this upcoming year, OU has seen double-digit percentage increases in our incoming class sizes – a stark contrast to sharp enrollment declines nationwide.
These results are no small feat, and when combined with the university’s upcoming move to the SEC, our ongoing efforts to ensure our Strategic Plan is up to date and keeps our university on the cutting edge of higher education, and our ongoing commitment to lead in academic areas like aviation and weather, among so many others, the future is indeed bright.
Many thanks goes to our faculty and staff for their continual efforts. I am proud of the work we do every day and the impact we have on the state of Oklahoma and beyond. We also appreciate you, our students, for your ongoing trust and support. Together, as a university community we will ensure that the University of Oklahoma remains a beacon of opportunity and excellence for all.
To learn more about our efforts to keep OU affordable, I invite you to view the video illustration below or visit our FAQ page. If you or any student you know has questions about how to afford tuition, please contact our professionals in the Student Financial Center, who are ready to help you create a plan for the upcoming year.
Live On, University,
Joseph Harroz, Jr.
President
