Oral Roberts University

Key Highlights

• Private non-profit institution with strong academic tradition
• Located in a major metropolitan area with excellent opportunities
• Research-intensive with extensive graduate programs
• Diverse academic programs across multiple disciplines

Student Life & Environment

Student life at Oral Roberts University is shaped profoundly by the university's spiritual mission, with chapel attendance requirements, small group discipleship, and campus culture that integrate faith into every dimension of daily experience. The campus community gathers twice weekly for chapel services featuring worship, preaching, and programming that reinforces the university's charismatic Christian identity. Residence life places students in community settings where resident advisors provide spiritual mentoring alongside practical support for campus living. The honor code governs student conduct, including expectations regarding academic integrity, personal behavior, and lifestyle choices that align with the university's interpretation of Christian standards. Intercollegiate athletics compete at the NCAA Division I level in the Summit League, with Golden Eagles teams in sports including basketball, soccer, baseball, and golf generating school spirit and community pride. Intramural sports and recreational programming engage students across ability levels, supporting the physical wellness emphasis central to ORU's educational philosophy. Student organizations include ministry groups, academic clubs, cultural organizations, and service teams that extend learning beyond the classroom. The annual tradition of running the Howard Auditorium steps and fulfilling the aerobics requirement connects students to ORU's distinctive whole-person philosophy. Mission trips and service projects take students around the world, putting faith into action through practical ministry. Campus life includes social events, concerts, and programming designed to build community while maintaining the behavioral standards the university upholds.

Location & Surroundings

Tulsa, Oklahoma provides a distinctive setting for Oral Roberts University, with a mid-sized city environment that combines affordability, accessibility, and a quality of life that appeals to students seeking alternatives to larger metropolitan areas. The university's south Tulsa location places the distinctive campus within easy reach of the city's attractions, including the Philbrook Museum of Art, Gathering Place park, and the Blue Dome entertainment district's restaurants and venues. Tulsa's economy includes energy, aerospace, healthcare, and growing technology sectors that provide internship and employment opportunities for students and graduates. The city's arts scene, anchored by institutions including the Tulsa Ballet and Tulsa Opera, brings cultural programming that enriches student experience. Cost of living in Tulsa remains significantly below national averages, with affordable housing, dining, and recreation that stretch student budgets further than in coastal cities. The Arkansas River provides recreational opportunities including running and cycling trails that support the physical fitness emphasis central to ORU's educational approach. Tulsa's Christian community includes numerous churches across traditions, with students finding worship homes that complement their ORU experience. The Will Rogers World Airport in nearby Oklahoma City and Tulsa International Airport provide air travel access, while major highways connect to destinations throughout the central United States. Summers bring Oklahoma heat that tests outdoor enthusiasts, while mild winters provide respite from the extreme cold affecting more northern regions.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Investment in an Oral Roberts University education represents a choice to pursue professional preparation within a faith-integrated environment, with costs reflecting the private university's commitment to maintaining its distinctive mission and small-scale learning environment. Tuition and fees align with peer institutions among private Christian universities, while remaining below the levels charged by secular private universities of similar size. Financial aid packages typically reduce net cost substantially, with scholarships recognizing academic achievement, ministry involvement, athletic ability, and other talents that ORU seeks in its student body. The Quest Whole Person Scholarship specifically rewards students who embody ORU's integrated approach to excellence across spiritual, intellectual, and physical dimensions. Room and board costs reflect Tulsa's affordable cost of living, with on-campus housing providing community connection central to the ORU experience. Work-study opportunities and campus employment help students manage expenses while gaining professional experience. Career services connect students with employers who value the character development and faith foundation that distinguish ORU graduates. Alumni serve in ministry positions worldwide, while healthcare, education, and business graduates find employment in secular and faith-based organizations. The extensive alumni network, bound by shared formative experience, provides mentorship and professional connections for new graduates. Long-term career success for ORU graduates reflects both professional competence and the distinctive personal qualities developed through the whole-person educational experience.

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