There are many benefits to graduating in four years. While most graduates enter the workforce, others will continue on to graduate school. OU offers several resouces to assist students to stay on their path to graduate in four.
While a full-time undergraduate enrollment status meeting the financial aid requirement is 12 hours per regular fall or spring semester, it is important to note that it is impossible to graduate in four years by completing only 12 hours of enrollment per fall and spring semester.
There are many reasons it is important to graduate in four years. A timely graduation benefits students who are applying to OU's Graduate College or other graduate schools. Many graduate programs only accept students for the fall semester, so a one semester delay can result in a one year delay of entering and completing a graduate degree.
A timely graduation also benefits students who are seeking employment. It enables students to enter the workforce and begin to experience enhanced earning power that a college degree usually provides. Furthermore, graduating in four years is much less expensive. Tuition and housing costs are subject to increases on an annual basis, and housing and living expenses often amount to $5,000 or more per semester.
A student needs to average at least 30 hours of completed and applicable coursework each year to have any opportunity to graduate in four years. Some degree programs require more. In order to complete the 30 hours or more per year, a student should complete at least 15 hours per fall and spring semester. When completing at least 30 hours total in fall and spring is not possible, the student should consider Winter Session or Summer Session enrollment.
The University of Oklahoma has approved flat-rate tuition to incentivize the completion of at least 30 credit hours per academic year.
