Oklahoma Colleges and Universities

Comprehensive Guide to Higher Education in Oklahoma

247,000+

State System Students

4 years consecutive growth

FREE Tuition

Oklahoma Promise

Income <$60k-$80k

27,241

OSU Students (Record)

5,000+ freshmen historic

25 Institutions

State System

2 research + 11 regional + 12 CC

University of Oklahoma (OU) Flagship

Location: Norman, OK 73019

Total Enrollment (Fall 2024): 34,523 students (most at Norman campus)

Norman Campus: 30,873 students

  • Undergraduates: 23,351 students
  • Graduate Students: 7,522 students

Enrollment Growth:

Four Consecutive Years: OU enrollment has grown each of past four years

Two-Year Growth: 20% increase over past two years

First-Time Freshmen (Fall 2024): 5,593 students

Student-Faculty Ratio:

18:1 ratio for personalized learning

Tuition (2024-25):

In-State: $9,797/year

Out-of-State: $27,377/year

Status: State flagship university, R1 Research University

Mission: Serves educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of state, region and nation

Website: ou.edu

Oklahoma State University (OSU) Record Enrollment

Location: Stillwater, OK 74078 (with Tulsa campus)

Total Enrollment (Fall 2024): 27,241 students (record-breaking)

Stillwater Campus: 27,655 students (reported after final add/drop)

Historic Freshman Class (Fall 2024):

First Time Ever: Topped 5,000 mark for freshman class

Growth: +8% increase over last year's freshman class

Decade-Long Growth:

10-Year Increase: Overall enrollment increased 18% in last decade

Record Enrollments by Category:

  • Honors College: 3,395 students (new record)
  • Native American Students: 3,498 students (new record)
  • Nursing Students: 737 students (new record)
  • Online Enrollment: 2,601 students (+19% vs last year)
  • Graduate College: 4,696 students (+5%)

Spears Business School:

Record enrollment numbers for second consecutive year

Tuition (2024-25):

In-State: $10,234/year (frozen for 2024-25)

Out-of-State: $25,754/year

Status: R1 Research University, Land-Grant Institution

Website: okstate.edu

Oklahoma State System of Higher Education 25 Institutions

Total Enrollment (Fall 2024): 247,000+ students

System Components: 25 colleges and universities

  • 2 Research Universities: OU, OSU
  • 11 Regional Universities
  • 12 Community Colleges

Four Consecutive Years of Growth:

Fall 2024: System enrollment increased for fourth consecutive year

Community Colleges: +3.4% headcount enrollment (Fall 2023 to Fall 2024)

Concurrent Enrollment (High School Students):

+10.3% Growth: High school students concurrently enrolled in Oklahoma public colleges increased 10.3% from Fall 2023 to Fall 2024

Regional Universities (11 Total):

  • Cameron University (Lawton)
  • East Central University (Ada)
  • Langston University (Langston) - HBCU
  • Northeastern State University (Tahlequah)
  • Northwestern Oklahoma State University (Alva)
  • Rogers State University (Claremore)
  • Southeastern Oklahoma State University (Durant)
  • Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Weatherford)
  • University of Central Oklahoma (Edmond)
  • University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (Chickasha)

Note: 13 institutions froze tuition and mandatory fees for resident undergraduates in 2024-25, including OSU, East Central, Northwestern, Rogers State, USAO, and several community colleges

Oklahoma's Promise Scholarship FREE Tuition

Coverage: Full tuition at any Oklahoma public two-year college, four-year university, or technology center

Note: Scholarship covers tuition only; fees, room, board, books, and supplies are excluded

Income Requirements (Based on Family Size):

  • 1-2 Dependent Children: Family income $60,000 or under
  • 3-4 Dependent Children: Family income $70,000 or under
  • 5+ Dependent Children: Family income $80,000 or under

Maximum Income Limit:

$100,000 Maximum: For any year that income reported on student's FAFSA exceeds $100,000, student will not be eligible to receive Oklahoma Promise benefit

Application Timeline:

  • 12th Graders: Deadline extended to December 31, 2025
  • 8th-11th Graders: Encouraged to apply by June 30, 2026

Requirements:

  • Academic: Meet academic requirements in high school
  • Conduct: Maintain conduct requirements
  • Income: Family meets income requirements throughout eligibility

How It Works: Students from families meeting income requirements can earn full tuition scholarship by meeting all academic and conduct requirements from 8th grade through high school graduation

Website: okpromise.org

Oklahoma Community Colleges (12 Colleges)

System Growth: +3.4% headcount enrollment (Fall 2023 to Fall 2024)

Part of State System: 247,000+ students total across all 25 Oklahoma public institutions

Individual College Highlights (Fall 2024):

Top Growth:

  • Redlands Community College: +14% enrollment (+72% first-time entering students)
  • Murray State College: +11% enrollment

Slight Declines:

  • Oklahoma City Community College: -0.5%
  • OSU Oklahoma City: -4.3%
  • Eastern Oklahoma State College: -3.2%

All 12 Oklahoma Community Colleges:

  • Carl Albert State College (Poteau)
  • Connors State College (Warner)
  • Eastern Oklahoma State College (Wilburton)
  • Murray State College (Tishomingo)
  • Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (Miami)
  • Northern Oklahoma College (Tonkawa)
  • Oklahoma City Community College (Oklahoma City)
  • OSU Institute of Technology (Okmulgee)
  • Redlands Community College (El Reno)
  • Rose State College (Midwest City)
  • Seminole State College (Seminole)
  • Tulsa Community College (Tulsa)

Tuition Freeze:

Several community colleges froze tuition for 2024-25: Oklahoma City CC, Redlands CC, Rose State College, Seminole State College, and Tulsa Community College

Notable Private Universities

University of Tulsa

Location: Tulsa, OK

Founded: 1894

Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,852 students (Fall 2024)

Acceptance Rate: 58-62% (moderately selective)

Status: Private research university

Other Notable Private Colleges:

  • Oral Roberts University (Tulsa) - Christian university
  • Oklahoma City University (Oklahoma City) - Methodist-affiliated
  • Oklahoma Baptist University (Shawnee)
  • Oklahoma Christian University (Edmond)
  • Southern Nazarene University (Bethany)

Tuition Comparison (2024-25 Academic Year)

Institution In-State Tuition Out-of-State Tuition
University of Oklahoma $9,797/year $27,377/year
Oklahoma State University $10,234/year (frozen) $25,754/year
Average Oklahoma Public Colleges $7,663/year $16,072/year
Community Colleges (12 colleges) $3,500-$5,000/year $8,000-$11,000/year
Oklahoma Promise Scholarship FREE tuition (income <$60k-$80k based on family size)
University of Tulsa (Private) $48,000+/year (same for all students)

Note: In-state undergraduate tuition increased average 1.6% statewide for 2024-25. 13 institutions froze tuition including OSU, East Central, Northwestern, Rogers State, USAO, and several community colleges. Oklahoma Promise covers full tuition for qualifying families.

Frequently Asked Questions

Oklahoma Promise provides FREE full tuition at any Oklahoma public college, university, or technology center. Income eligibility depends on family size: families with 1-2 dependents must earn $60,000 or under, 3-4 dependents $70,000 or under, and 5+ dependents $80,000 or under. Maximum income limit is $100,000 - if your FAFSA shows income above $100,000 any year, you lose eligibility. Students must apply between 8th-12th grade (12th graders have until December 31, 2025; 8th-11th graders by June 30, 2026) and meet academic and conduct requirements throughout high school. The scholarship covers tuition only; fees, room, board, and books are not included.

OU (University of Oklahoma) in Norman is the state flagship with 34,523 total students (30,873 on Norman campus), serving as Oklahoma's premier comprehensive research university. OSU (Oklahoma State University) in Stillwater has 27,241 students and set historic records in Fall 2024 with 5,000+ freshmen for the first time. Both are R1 research universities. OU tuition is $9,797 in-state while OSU is $10,234 (frozen for 2024-25). OU has grown 20% over the past two years while OSU grew 18% over the past decade. OU has an 18:1 student-faculty ratio. OSU set records in Honors College (3,395), Native American enrollment (3,498), nursing (737), and online learning (2,601 students, +19%).

Yes! Oklahoma's state system has experienced four consecutive years of enrollment growth, reaching 247,000+ students across 25 institutions in Fall 2024. Community colleges grew +3.4% from Fall 2023 to Fall 2024. OU grew 20% over two years, while OSU set all-time enrollment records with 27,241 students and a historic 5,000+ freshman class (+8%). High school students concurrently enrolled increased 10.3%. Individual community college highlights: Redlands CC +14% (with +72% first-time entering students) and Murray State College +11%. Growth is attributed to Oklahoma Promise free tuition program, improved retention initiatives, frozen tuition at 13 institutions, and strategic enrollment management.

Average in-state tuition at Oklahoma public colleges is $7,663 for 2024-25. OU charges $9,797 in-state and OSU $10,234 (frozen for 2024-25). Community colleges cost $3,500-$5,000 in-state annually. Tuition increased an average of only 1.6% statewide for 2024-25, and 13 institutions froze tuition entirely including OSU, East Central, Northwestern, Rogers State, USAO, Oklahoma City CC, Redlands CC, Rose State, Seminole State, and Tulsa CC. Oklahoma Promise scholarship provides FREE full tuition for qualifying families (income <$60k-$80k based on family size, max $100k). This makes Oklahoma one of the most affordable states for higher education.

OSU set multiple all-time records in Fall 2024: total enrollment of 27,241 students (highest ever), first-time topping 5,000 freshman mark (historic milestone, +8% vs last year), Honors College enrollment of 3,395 students (new record), Native American student enrollment of 3,498 (new record, highest of any Oklahoma institution), nursing student enrollment of 737 (new record), online enrollment of 2,601 (+19%), and Graduate College enrollment of 4,696 (+5%). Spears Business School achieved record numbers for second consecutive year. OSU enrollment has grown 18% over the past decade. These records demonstrate sustained momentum and OSU's appeal across multiple student populations and program types.

Oklahoma has 12 public community colleges serving the state. Community college enrollment grew +3.4% from Fall 2023 to Fall 2024, contributing to the state system's total of 247,000+ students across 25 institutions. Top growth leaders include Redlands Community College (+14% with +72% first-time entering students) and Murray State College (+11%). The 12 community colleges are: Carl Albert State (Poteau), Connors State (Warner), Eastern Oklahoma State (Wilburton), Murray State (Tishomingo), Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (Miami), Northern Oklahoma College (Tonkawa), Oklahoma City CC, OSU Institute of Technology (Okmulgee), Redlands CC (El Reno), Rose State (Midwest City), Seminole State, and Tulsa Community College. Several froze tuition for 2024-25.

Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma is the state's only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and is part of the Oklahoma State System's 11 regional universities. Founded as the Colored Agricultural and Normal University in 1897, Langston serves approximately 2,000-3,000 students. As the sole HBCU in Oklahoma, Langston plays a vital role in providing educational opportunities and preserving African American heritage and culture in the state. The university offers bachelor's and graduate programs across various disciplines and is eligible for Oklahoma Promise scholarship funding, making it an affordable option for qualifying students. Langston competes in NCAA Division II athletics.

Last updated on November 24, 2025