Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma's land-grant university in Stillwater, with rolling admission and published assured-admission and scholarship grids.
- Acceptance rate
- 74%
- First-time, first-year students entering fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-2026)
- Students
- 27,839
- 23,003 undergraduates
- International
- 2%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 20:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $31,000
- 2026-27
About OSU
Oklahoma State University was founded on 25 December 1890 as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, the territory's land-grant college under the Morrill Act. The Stillwater campus is the flagship of a five-campus OSU system that also includes the Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa. In fall 2025 the Common Data Set counted 27,839 students at OSU, 23,003 of them undergraduates, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 20 to 1.
Undergraduates choose from 87 majors in Arts and Sciences, Education and Human Sciences, Engineering, Architecture and Technology, the Ferguson College of Agriculture, the Spears School of Business, Professional Studies and the School of Global Studies, and the Honors College runs across all of them. OSU is a Carnegie R1 research university that reported more than $258 million in research expenditures in 2025, and it runs institutes in aerospace, energy and nutrition.
Admission is rolling and generous: 73.7% of first-year applicants were admitted for fall 2025, and students are assured admission with a 3.0 GPA in the core curriculum or a 24 ACT or 1160 SAT. The real competition is for money. Scholarships are awarded from the admission application on published GPA and test-score grids, so OSU suits students who apply early, send scores and want a big-campus, Big 12 college experience in a small city.
Scholarship, Instruction, Service
University motto
Why students choose OSU
Out-of-state students are automatically considered for the Out-of-State Achievement Scholarship, a partial tuition waiver worth $6,000 to $15,000 a year for 2027-28 entrants.
Assured admission is spelled out in advance: a 3.0 GPA in the 15-unit core, a 3.0 GPA plus top-third class rank, or a 24 ACT or 1160 SAT.
The Freshman Research Scholars Program lets first-year students join faculty research, and the ENDEAVOR building gives engineering undergraduates hands-on labs, including an indoor drone test arena.
Students can join more than 500 clubs and organizations, and OSU competes in NCAA Division I in the Big 12 Conference, with student tickets covering every home game in every sport.
Admissions
First-time, first-year students entering fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-2026)
20,646 admitted from 28,024 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
OSU admits on a rolling basis with no application deadline. For fall 2025, 28,024 first-year applicants (9,828 in-state, 16,541 out-of-state and 1,655 international) produced 20,646 admits and 5,160 enrolled students. Students who meet one assured-admission criterion are guaranteed a place; everyone else is reviewed holistically, and denied applicants may appeal once.
Typical entry requirements
| U.S. high school (15-unit core) | 4 units English, 3 mathematics (Algebra I and above), 3 history and citizenship skills, 3 lab science and 2 more from these areas, computer science or a foreign language |
|---|---|
| Assured admission (meet one) | 3.0 GPA and top 33.3% of class; or 3.0 GPA in the 15-unit core; or 24 ACT / 1160 SAT |
| International freshmen | High school GPA of 3.0+ on a 4.0 scale for assured admission, with grades converted and recalculated on the core curriculum; passport page, transcripts in the original language plus English translations, and a financial guarantee form with a bank letter |
| The Honors College | 3.75 high school GPA plus a 27 ACT or 1260 SAT, or a 3.75 GPA with holistic review instead of a test score |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 Minimum scores: TOEFL iBT 3.5 (on the new 1-6 scale), IELTS Academic 5.5, PTE Academic 46, iTEP 3.5 or Duolingo 95. Conditional admission is available if you meet everything except English. The requirement is waived for graduates of English-medium high schools in English-speaking countries and for students with two or more years at U.S. high schools. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years. |
Deadlines
- Early Opportunity Scholarship Deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Not an admission deadline: complete your application, including the leadership and involvement resume and test scores, by this date for maximum scholarship consideration.
- Priority Scholarship Deadline Non-binding In ~4 monthsFebruary 1, 2027
All application materials must be in for full scholarship consideration for fall entry; later applications are considered only if funds remain.
- College Decision Day (enrollment deposit) Non-binding In ~7 monthsMay 1, 2027
Admitted students are encouraged to pay the $300 enrollment deposit and register for housing and orientation by May 1; some scholarships must be accepted by this date.
OSU uses rolling admission with no application deadline for fall 2027. The listed dates are scholarship and enrollment dates from OSU's freshman dates and scholarship pages, which do not print years; they are applied here to the 2027 cycle, for which applications are now open. The priority scholarship deadline for spring entry is October 15. The source pages print no year for these dates; they are read as Nov 1, 2026, Feb 1, 2027 and May 1, 2027 because the OSU application opens in July/August of the year before entry.
How to apply
Apply through the OSU Application (opens 1 July) or the Common Application (opens 1 August), but submit only one; it also covers university scholarships. Send your official transcript and ACT/SAT scores if you have them, and add the recommended leadership and involvement resume. The fee is $50 for U.S. applicants (waivers accepted) and $90 for international applicants, who also upload a passport page, an English test score and financial guarantee documents.
What admissions looks for
- A completed 15-unit core curriculum with at least a 3.0 GPA, the clearest route to assured admission.
- For holistic review: high school GPA, ACT or SAT scores if you send them, academic letters of recommendation, leadership experience, community involvement and accomplishments.
- In the Common Data Set, class rank, GPA, test scores, the essay, recommendations, extracurriculars and volunteer work are all marked as considered; none is marked very important.
- For scholarships: GPA and test scores on published grids, plus class rank, your leadership resume and your essay response on the application.
Tips for applying to OSU
- 1 Apply and send test scores before 1 November: the Early Opportunity Scholarship Deadline gives you maximum scholarship consideration.
- 2 Send an ACT or SAT score even though admission is test-optional, because most university scholarships need one. OSU says it will not use a score that would hurt your chances.
- 3 Fill in the leadership and involvement resume. It is optional for admission but feeds the scholarship review and competitive awards such as the President's Distinguished Scholarship.
- 4 Students from participating southern states should check the Academic Common Market, which can give in-state tuition. International students who graduate from an Oklahoma high school get a full out-of-state tuition waiver.
- 5 If you are denied, you can appeal once through the application portal; add updated grades, recommendations or new test scores first.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for Oklahoma State University
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
Applicants are automatically considered for university-assured scholarships through the admission application; file the FAFSA (code 003170) for federal aid. Out-of-state freshmen can receive the Out-of-State Achievement Scholarship, a four-year partial tuition waiver of $6,000 to $15,000 a year for 2027-28 entrants based on GPA and test scores. International freshmen are considered automatically for awards of $5,000 to $15,000 a year.
- $34,590 in-state; $50,850 out-of-state; $53,553 international (including $2,773 health insurance)
- Cost of attendance 2026-27, on campus
- $35,230 in-state; $51,490 out-of-state; $54,577 international
- Cost of attendance 2027-28 estimate, on campus
- $6,000-$15,000 a year, up to $60,000 over four years
- Out-of-State Achievement Scholarship (2027-28)
- $5,000-$15,000 a year, automatic consideration
- International scholarships
- Up to $154,500
- National Merit Scholarship (finalists who list OSU first)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Engineering (College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology)
Undergraduates train in the ENDEAVOR building, which has an indoor drone test arena, small wind tunnels and process and flow labs.
Aerospace and unmanned aircraft
OSU's Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education works on rocket motors, drone swarming, counter-drone technology and airspace integration from sites in Stillwater, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Lawton.
Agriculture (Ferguson College of Agriculture)
The core of OSU's land-grant mission, linked to Cooperative Extension programs that serve communities across Oklahoma.
Business and hospitality (Spears School of Business)
OSU's business school, covering the Business, Hospitality and Management interest area among the university's 87 majors.
The Honors College
Open to students with a 3.75 GPA plus a 27 ACT or 1260 SAT, or through holistic review, with honors housing among the living learning programs.
Research
- OSU is a Carnegie R1 university and reported more than $258 million in research expenditures in 2025, including more than $79 million sponsored by federal agencies such as NSF and NIH.
- Transdisciplinary institutes focus on aerospace and advanced mobility (OAIRE), energy (the Hamm Institute) and human nutrition and performance (HPNRI).
- More than 990 faculty and staff conduct research across 30 research centers and institutes; undergraduates can join through the Freshman Research Scholars Program, McNair Scholars and Niblack Research Scholars.
Schools & faculties
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Education and Human Sciences
- College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
- Ferguson College of Agriculture
- Spears School of Business
- Professional Studies
- School of Global Studies
- The Honors College
- Graduate College
- College of Veterinary Medicine
- College of Osteopathic Medicine
College Scorecard: median earnings of $57,413 ten years after entry and $46,855 six years after entry for federally aided students.
Student life
OSU is a residential campus: all first-time freshmen must live in university housing, choosing from 30 residence halls in four styles (traditional halls, suites, deluxe suites and apartments) and nine living learning programs, including honors. Students can join more than 500 clubs and organizations, including Greek life and dozens of intramural sports, and the 240,000-square-foot Colvin Recreation Center is the fitness hub. Campus culture is orange: Homecoming, which OSU calls America's Greatest Homecoming, includes dyeing the library fountain, and Big 12 game days fill Boone Pickens Stadium.
- More than 500 student clubs and organizations
- 30 residence halls and 9 living learning programs; first-time freshmen live on campus
- America's Greatest Homecoming, with traditions such as dyeing the library fountain
- NCAA Division I athletics in the Big 12 Conference; student tickets cover every home game in every sport
- More than 30 dining options on campus
Housing. All incoming first-time freshmen must live in OSU housing (exemptions exist); rooms are assigned by preference and by the date of your $300 enrollment deposit, with a 1 March priority housing deadline.
Location
Stillwater is a college town in northeast Oklahoma, and the university sits at its heart. It is about 60 miles from both Oklahoma City and Tulsa, so big-city amenities and airports are about an hour's drive away. On-campus housing and food cost about $12,500 for the 2026-27 academic year.
Nearest airport: Will Rogers International Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma City or Tulsa International Airport (TUL), each in a city about 60 miles from Stillwater
Notable alumni
- TB T. Boone PickensOil executive and financier; geology graduate of Oklahoma A&M (now OSU)
- GB Garth BrooksCountry singer; OSU graduate who threw the javelin for the track team
- AH Anita HillLawyer and Brandeis professor; BS in psychology (1977)
- ER Ed RobertsEngineer who built the first commercially successful personal computer; electrical engineering degree (1968)
- KS Kevin StittGovernor of Oklahoma (since 2019); BS in accounting (1996)
- MF Mary FallinFormer Governor of Oklahoma (2011-2019); BS (1977)
- BS Barry SandersNFL running back; played college football for OSU and won the 1988 Heisman Trophy
- JM James MarsdenActor; studied broadcast journalism for a year and a half (did not graduate)
Frequently asked questions
What is Oklahoma State University's acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, OSU admitted 20,646 of 28,024 first-year applicants, an acceptance rate of about 73.7%. Students who meet one assured-admission criterion, such as a 3.0 core GPA or a 24 ACT/1160 SAT, are guaranteed admission.
Is Oklahoma State test-optional?
Yes, for admission. You can be admitted without an ACT or SAT score, but most university scholarships require an official score, so it is worth sending one.
What is the application deadline for Oklahoma State?
There is none: OSU admits on a rolling basis. For scholarships, apply by November 1, 2026 (Early Opportunity) and have all materials in by February 1, 2027 (Priority).
How much does Oklahoma State cost?
For 2026-27, OSU estimates tuition and fees of $14,740 for Oklahoma residents and $31,000 for out-of-state and international students, plus $12,500 for on-campus housing and food. The total on-campus cost of attendance is $34,590 in-state, $50,850 out-of-state and $53,553 for international students.
Does Oklahoma State give scholarships to out-of-state and international students?
Yes. Out-of-state freshmen are automatically considered for the Out-of-State Achievement Scholarship of $6,000 to $15,000 a year (2027-28 grid), and international freshmen for awards of $5,000 to $15,000 a year, with no separate application.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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