The Michael F. Price College of Business ensures the enduring global competitiveness of Oklahoma and the Nation. We fulfill our Purpose in three ways:
Tackling the biggest and most important business issues of our time.
Generate valuable insights that make companies and organizations more effective, more efficient, and more enduring.
Preparing our students as the leaders our state and nation need.
With 12 programs, 24 majors, and 5,500 students, The Michael F. Price College of Business is proud of the education it’s bringing to tomorrow's leaders. Read below to learn more about how we’re staying nationally and internationally competitive as we strive to do the best for our students.
The namesake of our college comes from alumni Michael F. Price (BBA 1973).
Michael F. Price was born and raised in Long Island, New York in 1951. Though he was not born in Oklahoma, he was a true Sooner at heart. His love for the OU Sooners football team led him to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1973. After graduating, he returned to New York to work for the Heine Securities Corp., becoming a partner of Max L. Heine by 1982, and buying the company in 1988. During his ownership, Michael increased the value of the company’s mutual funds to over $17 billion. He sold the company in 1996, but stayed on for another five years to manage the funds, as a stipulation of the sale. In one year, he took the funds to $28 billion.
Michaels's success garnered both national and international attention. He was even featured as one of the “25 Most Influential People” by TIME magazine in 1997. During this time of success and recognition, Michael made a historical donation of an $18 million gift to the OU College of Business Administration, the largest single gift to a public university or any Oklahoma higher education institution at the time. The college was officially designated as the Michael F. Price College of Business by the OU Board of Regents.
Along with his gifts to the College of Business, Michael also made gifts that helped construct Price Hall, establish the Michael F. Price Sooner Wellness System, the Michael F. Price Family Foundation Scholarship, the Price Family Foundation Institute of Structural Biology at the Stephenson Life Science Research Center, and many other contributions.
Michael stayed involved with OU in more ways than his generosity. In 1998 he was awarded the highest honor by the University of Oklahoma, an honorary degree. The same year he served as the commencement speaker. From 2002-2009, He served as a trustee for the University of Oklahoma Foundation Inc.
The School of Commerce and Industry, under the School of Arts and Sciences, changes to the School of Public and Private Business, becoming one of the first schools west of the Mississippi to be accredited by AACSB International.
The School of Commerce and Industry officially becomes the College of Business Administration.
With the support of the Public Works Administration, a new building is constructed to accommodate the exponential growth. It’s named Adams Hall, after the dean at the time, Arthur Barto Adams.
The college was named Michael F. Price, after a major benefactor and a school graduate (BBA 1973) of the same name.
Price Hall was built as an addition to Adams Hall
At Price College, our Board of Advisors is a powerhouse of industry leaders who drive innovation and excellence in business education. Representing a wide range of sectors, they play an indispensable role in guiding the strategic direction of Oklahoma’s top-ranked business school. Through their active involvement and commitment, the Board guides continuous improvement and innovative advancements at Price College, ensuring that our institution remains at the forefront of business education.
For Rafael Ramos, growing up in Altus, Oklahoma, meant learning the value of hard work in his family’s restaurants. This December, he earns his second degree from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Accountancy, as he prepares to launch his career with Ernst & Young.
When Avery Bennett imagined her college years, she dreamed of a place where she could grow both academically and artistically. This December, she graduates from OU with a 4.0 GPA, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance.
