The University of Oklahoma averaged the lowest increase in tuition and fees nationwide at a statewide public university over the last five years, according to a recent College Board report.
The College Board’s Trends in College Pricing 2013 report indicated that OU had the lowest increase in tuition and fees for in-state students – 4 percent – over the five-year period from 2008-09 to 2013-14.
“OU is very pleased to be a leader in the nation in working hard to keep the doors of opportunity open for deserving students who face an increasingly difficult time in paying for higher education,” said OU President David L. Boren.
The report follows the introduction of OU’s new flat-rate tuition and mandatory fees program, which allows full-time undergraduate students to enroll in up to 21 credit hours each semester while only paying for 15. The goal of the program is to save students and families thousands of dollars and increase the four-year graduation rate.
A pool of more than $1 million was established to provide additional financial assistance to students who have to work large numbers of hours each week to attend college. An appeals process is available to these students with extraordinary extenuating circumstances who are unable to enroll in 15 credit hours.
In addition to saving students textbook dollars by keeping often-used books on reserve at the library, last year OU introduced the One University digital initiative, which allows faculty members to develop customized digital alternatives to textbooks. This translates to an annual savings averaging $400 per student in textbook cost.
The College Board, a nonprofit that promotes college access and owns the SAT exam, publishes the report annually. The report analyzes the changes in tuition and fees at colleges across the country.
For more information about flat-rate tuition, or to learn how students can add classes to their existing enrollment, please go to www.ou.edu/flat-rate or contact the hotline for flat-rate tuition and mandatory fees that has been established through the OU Graduation Office at (405) 325-0841.
