University of Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma is a long-established state research university and the flagship institution of the Oklahoma State University System in the United States, holding ‘R1: Very High Research Activity’ status. Founded in 1890, before Oklahoma had yet become a state, OU admitted its first students in 1892 and became an official state university in 1907 when Oklahoma attained statehood. Today, it provides education to over 34,500 students (autumn 2024 figures) across three different campuses.

Academically, OU offers a very wide range of programmes, comprising 174 undergraduate, 199 postgraduate and 101 doctoral programmes, as well as 88 certificate options. It comprises 15 faculties. These include the Michael F. Price College of Business, ranked 64th nationally; the prestigious College of Engineering (renowned for its distinctive ‘Loyal Knights’ tradition); the Faculty of Law, and the Centre for Health Sciences, which has campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Furthermore, the university stands out for its strong programmes in fields such as meteorology, fine arts and Native American Studies. Courses are offered in Native American languages — Cherokee, Choctaw, Mvskoke and Kiowa.

Research is one of the university’s cornerstones. With annual R&D expenditure exceeding $416 million, OU ranks within the top 250 in the world in fields such as petroleum engineering (12th globally), environmental sciences (209th), engineering (333rd), computer science (345th) and business (242nd).

The main campus in Norman covers an area of 3,000 dönüm and is renowned for its iconic buildings in the Cherokee Gothic architectural style. These include the Bizzell Library (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), Parrington Oval, the Fred Jones Jr. Art Museum and the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History. Students can also take part in OU’s study programmes in Mexico and Brazil, as well as at the Arezzo Study Centre in Italy.

Student life, over 300 student societies, the renowned ‘Pride of Oklahoma’ marching band, and the award-winning student newspaper The Oklahoma Daily and boasts a vibrant sports culture with a long-standing tradition. The university’s sports team, the Sooners, competes in the NCAA Division I FBS (SEC) league and, having won a total of 45 NCAA team championships to date—including 7 in American football and 8 in softball—has established itself as one of the most successful athletics programmes in the US.

Featured Episodes: Petroleum Engineering, Business and Economics, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Law, Health Sciences, Meteorology, Native American Studies, Fine Arts

Arrangement:

• EduRank 2025: 231st worldwide, 96th in the US, 1st in the state of Oklahoma

• QS World University Rankings 2025: in the 701–710 band

Location: Norman, Oklahoma (main campus); Health Sciences Centres in Oklahoma City and Tulsa; the Schusterman Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

Year of Establishment: 19 December 1890 (the first class began in the autumn of 1892)