University in United States
Norman, OK, United States
University profile
The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a public research university founded in 1890 by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature, 17 years before statehood. It describes itself as the state's flagship university and a doctoral degree-granting research institution serving the educational, cultural, economic and health-care needs of the state, region and nation. Its mission is to provide the best possible educational experience through excellence in teaching, research and creative activity, and service to the state and society.
The main Norman campus lies about 30 minutes south of Oklahoma City and is known for Prairie Gothic architecture, manicured grounds and sculpture. It hosts all academic programmes except health-related fields. The OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City is one of four comprehensive academic health centres in the nation with seven professional colleges, and OU-Tulsa (Schusterman Center) offers more than 30 degree programmes. In Fall 2025 total unduplicated headcount was 36,510, with more than 2,600 full-time faculty and 20 colleges.
Colleges and schools include Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, Michael F. Price College of Business, Gallogly College of Engineering, Gibbs College of Architecture, Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, Honors College, College of International Studies (Boren), College of Law, College of Professional and Continuing Studies and the Graduate College. The Health campus houses Allied Health, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Public Health. More than 170 undergraduate programmes and more than 260 master's and doctoral programmes are offered.
Student life includes more than 500 student organizations, more than 100 study abroad programs and Sooner athletics, with football played at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. All first-year students must live in freshman-designated university housing for two semesters (exceptions can be requested); residence halls include Couch Center, Cross Village, David L. Boren Hall, Headington Hall, McCasland Hall and the Dunham and Headington residential colleges. Campus museums include the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and Bizzell Memorial Library is the main library.
More than 2,000 international students from 136 countries study at OU, supported by Admissions & Recruitment and International Student Services. The institution cites research expenditures of $416.6M.
Four-year merit tuition waivers are awarded automatically to admitted freshmen who apply by December 15. Resident awards range from $11,000 ($2,750 x 4 years) to $16,000 ($4,000 x 4); non-resident awards range from $48,000 to $70,000. National Merit Finalist awards are $147,660 (resident) and $157,050 (non-resident). Details: OU scholarships.
International freshmen are considered for awards from $40,000 ($10,000 x 4 years) to $68,000 ($17,000 x 4 years) by SAT/ACT tier, with test-optional applicants reviewed holistically; international transfer awards range from $2,000 to $20,000. Priority deadline December 15 (freshman).
Students are encouraged to file the FAFSA. Oklahoma's Promise with Crimson Commitment and OU Onward cover tuition and average fees for qualifying Oklahoma residents by family income. Federal aid via the FAFSA is for eligible US citizens and eligible non-citizens.
OU International Freshman Merit Scholarships →
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View scholarships for University of Oklahoma →Admission is holistic. The primary factors are high school GPA in core academic courses, rigor of course selection and ACT/SAT scores (encouraged). OU practises a test-optional process, superscores ACT/SAT/CLT, and allows self-reported scores verified at enrolment. Curricular core: 4 units English, 3 college-prep maths (4 recommended), 3 laboratory science (4 recommended), 3 history and citizenship, 2 additional units. Essay, activities, leadership and up to three recommendation letters are considered. Apply with the OU Application, Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir.
Dates: application opens Aug. 1; Early Action and spring deadline Nov. 1; final scholarship deadline Dec. 15; final admission deadline Feb. 1; summer deadline Mar. 1; last day to update test scores Apr. 30; enrollment deposit May 1. Domestic application fee $50, non-refundable. Official AP and CLEP scores are submitted for credit.
Transfer students with fewer than 24 non-remedial credit hours must meet freshman requirements plus the college transfer GPA requirement; with 24 or more, the college transfer GPA requirement. Deadlines: fall April 1 (international), spring Nov. 1; priority scholarship Mar. 1 (fall/summer) and Oct. 1 (spring). Official transcripts from every institution are required.
International freshmen need a minimum 3.0 GPA on the US unweighted 4.0 scale (or equivalent) from a recognized secondary certificate and must be 17 before classes start. English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 79 (generally 20 per section), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 100, or PTE Academic 53, or other routes such as 24 semester hours at an accredited institution in a native English-speaking country or completion of OU's CESL programme. Deadlines for applicants outside the US: freshman fall Feb. 1, spring Nov. 1, summer Feb. 1; credential deadlines Apr. 15 (fall). Application fee $90 (undergraduate international). Passport name page and financial documentation (statements within 90 days) are required for the I-20 or DS-2019, issued by International Student Services typically in 3 to 10 business days.
Apply through the Graduate College portal for the Norman and Tulsa campuses; the Graduate College does not itself require the GRE, though many academic units do. Application fee $50 for US citizens/residents and $100 for international applicants; no fee waivers from the Graduate College. Programme-specific requirements are set by each academic unit.
The University of Oklahoma, founded in 1890, is the state's flagship public research university. Its main campus is in Norman, Oklahoma, a city of more than 110,000 residents, and it operates across three campuses.
The Norman campus is home to all of the university's academic programs except health-related fields. It is known for Prairie Gothic architecture, manicured grounds, and sculptures and fountain settings. The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, which holds the Weitzenhoffer Collection of French Impressionist paintings, is on campus, as are Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and the Lloyd Noble Center. Admissions & Recruitment is in the Jones Family Welcome Center at Jacobson Hall.
The OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City (now the OU Harold Hamm Health Campus) is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges: Allied Health, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Graduate Studies. Clinical training takes place at on-site institutions including OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center, Oklahoma Children's Hospital OU Health and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
OU-Tulsa is located at the Schusterman Center, 4502 E. 41st Street, on 60 landscaped acres in Tulsa. It has more than 1,100 students and offers more than 30 degree programs, including bachelor's degree completion, master's and doctoral programs, from both Norman and Health Sciences Center colleges.
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