The University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's public research university in Norman, known for meteorology, energy and Sooner football, with flat-rate tuition for undergraduates.
- Acceptance rate
- 78%
- First-year students entering fall 2025 (Norman campus Common Data Set 2025-26)
- Students
- 33,638
- 26,304 undergraduates
- Student–faculty
- 19:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $34,335
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1890
About OU
The University of Oklahoma was founded in 1890 in Norman, in what was then Oklahoma Territory, and took its current name when Oklahoma became a state in 1907. The Norman campus enrolled 33,638 students in fall 2026, including 26,304 undergraduates, and OU also runs the Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and a campus in Tulsa. The historic core, built around the North and South Ovals in a Collegiate Gothic style known locally as Cherokee Gothic, is anchored by Evans Hall and Bizzell Memorial Library.
Norman's colleges include the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, the Michael F. Price College of Business, the Gallogly College of Engineering, the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts and the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences. OU's Research Campus is home to the National Weather Center and the Advanced Radar Research Center, which make Norman a hub for meteorology, and its College of Aviation trains pilots and air traffic controllers.
OU admitted 22,660 of 29,195 first-year applicants for fall 2025 (77.6%) and is test-optional, but reads essays and recommends letters of recommendation. It suits students who want a big-time SEC campus experience with strong programs in weather, energy, business and journalism, and a flat-rate tuition model that lets full-time undergraduates take up to 21 hours per semester.
Civi et Reipublicae
“For the benefit of the Citizen and the State” — university motto
Why students choose OU
Meteorology in Norman: the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences sits alongside the National Weather Center and the Advanced Radar Research Center.
Flat-rate tuition: full-time undergraduates can take up to 21 credit hours a semester without paying extra.
SEC athletics and traditions, from Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to the Pride of Oklahoma marching band.
A holistic review that reads your essay and weighs involvement, with priority merit scholarships and Honors College access for Early Action applicants.
Admissions
First-year students entering fall 2025 (Norman campus Common Data Set 2025-26)
22,660 admitted from 29,195 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
6,229 first-years enrolled in fall 2025. Oklahoma residents made up 6,694 applicants and 5,083 admits; out-of-state students 20,948 applicants and 16,828 admits; and 1,553 international students applied, with 749 admitted. Fall 2026 brought 6,160 new freshmen to the Norman campus.
Typical entry requirements
| US high school core | 4 units English, 3 units college-prep math (4 recommended), 3 units lab science (4 recommended), 3 units history and citizenship, plus additional units from these subjects, computer science or foreign language |
|---|---|
| International secondary | A certificate that qualifies for university entry at home, with a B average (3.0 on an unweighted 4.0 scale); applicants must be 17 by the first day of class |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 TOEFL iBT 4.0 on the new scale (79 for tests before January 21, 2026), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 100 or PTE Academic 53; consistency across sections is considered. Completing OU's Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) also qualifies. |
Deadlines
- Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Priority for merit scholarships, earlier financial aid notice, first access to Honors College application and orientation scheduling.
- Final scholarship admission deadline Non-binding In ~2 monthsDecember 15, 2026
Apply by this date to be considered for merit scholarships; ACT/SAT/CLT scores can be updated until April 30.
- Final admission deadline Non-binding In ~4 monthsFebruary 1, 2027
Also the fall application deadline for international freshmen living outside the US, whose credentials are due April 15. Enrollment deposit due May 1.
OU's freshman page lists recurring dates (Nov. 1, Dec. 15, Feb. 1) without a year; its Early Action page confirms the November 1 deadline applies to fall 2027 admission.
How to apply
OU Application, Common App or Coalition with Scoir; $50 fee (domestic); official transcript with at least six semesters, unweighted GPA and class rank; essay and short answers; test scores optional (self-reporting allowed); up to three letters of recommendation highly recommended.
What admissions looks for
- Demonstrated academic achievement first: GPA in core courses, rigor of course selection and, if submitted, ACT/SAT/CLT scores.
- High school grades above all; OU says a strong test score or tough schedule will not make up for a noncompetitive GPA.
- Writing and self-expression in the essay and short answers.
- Engagement: community involvement, leadership, activities, work experience and exceptional talents, plus recommendations.
Tips for applying to OU
- 1 Apply by November 1 for priority merit scholarships and first access to the Honors College application.
- 2 Self-report your test scores if they help: OU superscores and lets you keep sending new scores for scholarship upgrades until April 30.
- 3 Explain any D or F grades, especially from junior or senior year, in your application; OU says they are a cause for concern otherwise.
- 4 Budget for on-campus living: all first-year students must live in freshman-designated university housing for two semesters.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for The University of Oklahoma
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
OU awards merit scholarships based on the admission application, with priority for students who apply by November 1 and a final scholarship deadline of December 15; submitting test scores can increase awards. First-years who file the FAFSA early get their aid notification sooner, and OU MoneyCoach helps students plan how to pay. International students are eligible for institutional aid.
- $40,145
- 2026-27 cost of attendance, Oklahoma resident living on campus
- $58,823
- 2026-27 cost of attendance, non-resident living on campus
- $56,311
- 2026-27 estimated cost, international undergraduate (incl. $2,795 medical insurance)
- 603
- Nonresident (international) undergraduates awarded institutional aid (CDS 2025-26)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Meteorology
Taught in the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, with the National Weather Center and Advanced Radar Research Center on OU's Research Campus.
Petroleum and energy (Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy)
A dedicated energy college, with the Sarkeys Energy Center on the main campus.
Aviation
The College of Aviation at OU's own Max Westheimer Airport trains pilots and air traffic controllers and is one of only 29 AABI-accredited aviation colleges worldwide.
Journalism and Mass Communication
Gaylord College students produce OUTV and the live newscast OU Nightly and run Studio U radio.
Business (Price College)
OU's second-largest college on the Norman campus, with more than 7,300 students in fall 2026.
Research
- The National Weather Center and Advanced Radar Research Center on the Norman Research Campus.
- The Radar Operations Center and the former National Severe Storms Laboratory facility on OU's North Campus.
- Gallogly College of Engineering labs including the High-Speed Aerothermodynamics Laboratory.
- The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, home to the Weitzenhoffer Collection of Impressionist art.
Schools & faculties
- Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences
- Gibbs College of Architecture
- College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences
- Michael F. Price College of Business
- Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy
- Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education
- Gallogly College of Engineering
- Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts
- Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication
- College of Law
- College of Professional and Continuing Studies
- Honors College
College Scorecard: median earnings of $63,126 ten years after entry (and $52,216 six years after entry) for federally aided students.
Student life
All first-year students at OU live in freshman-designated university housing for two semesters, and the campus has more than 500 student organisations, from student government to Greek life, whose houses line the streets west of campus. Football Saturdays at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium are the heart of the calendar, with the Pride of Oklahoma marching band at every home game and the Red River Rivalry against Texas each autumn. Students also run The Oklahoma Daily newspaper, OUTV and Studio U radio, and new students start with Camp Crimson.
- Oklahoma Sooners in the SEC, with seven Heisman Trophy winners and seven claimed football national championships.
- Women's gymnastics and softball dynasties, including four straight softball national titles from 2021 to 2024.
- The Pride of Oklahoma, a Sudler Trophy-winning marching band (1987) that has played the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- More than 500 student organisations and Camp Crimson for incoming students.
Housing. All first-year students must live in freshman-designated university housing for two semesters; 2026-27 on-campus housing and food costs $16,381.
Location
Norman is Oklahoma's third-largest city, with about 128,000 people, and sits 20 miles south of Oklahoma City within its metro area. The main campus, bounded by Boyd Street, Jenkins Avenue, Chautauqua Avenue and Timberdell Road, is linked by a student-funded bus service to the North Campus airport and research area and to the Research Campus in the south, home of the National Weather Center.
Nearest airport: Will Rogers International Airport (OKC)
Notable alumni
- CA Carl Albert46th Speaker of the US House of Representatives
- SL Shannon LucidNASA astronaut and biochemist (BS chemistry 1963, MS and PhD)
- OK Owen K. GarriottNASA astronaut on Skylab (BS electrical engineering 1953)
- HW Helen WaltonPhilanthropist and arts advocate (finance degree)
- OM Olivia MunnActress and TV host (BA journalism)
- KM Kyler MurrayNFL quarterback and 2018 Heisman Trophy winner
- TA Troy AikmanPro Football Hall of Fame quarterback (played at OU before transferring)
Frequently asked questions
What is the University of Oklahoma's acceptance rate?
OU's Norman campus admitted 22,660 of 29,195 first-year applicants for fall 2025, about 78%.
Is OU test-optional?
Yes. You decide on the application whether your ACT, SAT or CLT scores are considered; OU recommends submitting them for scholarships and superscores results.
What are OU's application deadlines for fall 2027?
Early Action is November 1, 2026, the final scholarship deadline is December 15, 2026, and the final admission deadline is February 1, 2027.
How much does OU cost for out-of-state students?
For 2026-27, non-resident tuition and fees total $34,181, and the full cost of attendance living on campus is estimated at $58,823.
What English test score do international students need for OU?
TOEFL iBT 4.0 on the new scale (79 on the old scale), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 100 or PTE 53.
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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