Best Colleges in Oklahoma of 2023

Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is the state's flagship public university and known for its high level of research activity. This large school is located in Norman and has about 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled and nearly 3,000 faculty members. Its student body has the distinction of having the highest number of National Merit Scholars among all public universities. Undergraduate students can choose from 400 student organizations and 150 majors. Majors are housed within the university's 15 schools and colleges, which include Architecture, Law, Engineering, Earth and Energy, Education, Journalism, International Studies, and Fine Arts. Notable alumni from the University of Oklahoma include actor Ed Harris, attorney Anita Hill, and Olympic gold medalist Bart Connor. The University of Oklahoma stands out for having the best graduation rate among the public schools on this list.

The University of Tulsa is a private institution that was started by the Presbyterian Church as an all-girls school for Native American children in 1894. Today it's coeducational and nondenominational and has a student body of about 3,700 undergraduates and graduates. Undergraduate major choices include a Bachelor of Science in Computer Simulation and Gaming, a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies. For students interested in legal studies, the University of Tulsa has a College of Law that offers an undergraduate minor in Law, Policy, and Social Justice. The law school also offers hard-to-find Juris Doctorate concentrations, like Native American law and sustainable energy law. A unique perk of the University of Tulsa is its innovative job placement program that promises students who complete it the receipt of a job offer or acceptance into graduate school within six months of graduation.

When Oklahoma State University was founded in 1890, it was an agricultural and mechanical college. Today, it's a large public research institution with programs in education, agriculture, the arts and sciences, business, osteopathic medicine, engineering, and veterinary health sciences. About 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and over 100 countries attend the school, which is located in the town of Stillwater. Over 1,000 students participate in research alongside faculty at Oklahoma State via the school's 30 research centers and institutions. These include the Genomics & Proteomics Center, the Recombinant DNA/Protein Facility, and the Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Adversity.

Oklahoma City University is a private university located in the uptown district of its namesake city. Established in 1904, it's affiliated with the United Methodist Church and has a student body of 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Its core values, which were chosen by students, faculty, and alumni, are integrity, respect, diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. Seventy undergraduate and 20 graduate degrees are offered at Oklahoma City University via its schools of nursing, performing arts, business, law, and arts and sciences. The university also has a United Methodist seminary on campus that prepares students for a career in the ministry. The degree-granting seminary - Saint Paul School of Theology - awards scholarships to 100% of its students and has an employment rate of 98% postgraduation.

Oklahoma Baptist University stands out on our list for having the most selective admissions rate. This small private school in the town of Shawnee was founded in 1910 by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. The university offers nine bachelor's degrees and four master's degrees taught through a Christian lens by an all-Christian faculty. Majors include a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies, a Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology, and a Bachelor of Art in Graphic Design. About 1,500 students attend Oklahoma Baptist, and all are encouraged to study abroad and participate in Christian mission trips through the University's Avery T. Willis Center for Global Outreach. The university has the most alumni in the country currently serving as missionaries with the International Mission Board.

The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is unique because it's the only public school in the state that focuses solely on the liberal arts. It's also known for its commitment to interdisciplinary studies and academic innovation. All students must take core courses in history, science, art, mathematics, literature, philosophy, economics, art, and theatre. The approach to instruction is also different at the University of Science and Arts. Courses are taught by a team of two professors from different disciplines in the same classroom so students receive different perspectives on the same material. For a public institution, the school boasts an extremely low student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1, and 100% of all full-time faculty have postgraduate degrees. Additionally, no classes are taught by teaching assistants. This unique school was founded in 1908 and is located in the town of Chickasha, Oklahoma.

Oral Roberts University is a private evangelical university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that focuses on educating the spirits, minds, and bodies of its 4,000 students. It was founded in 1963 by evangelist Oral Roberts and offers over 150 majors, minors, and pre-professional programs. Undergraduate majors include a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Literature, a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology. The school's unique Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinema, TV, and Digital Media is a highly hands-on program that encourages students to enter their work in the annual OSU Film Gala. Oral Roberts is designated a Military Friendly School and offers many services for veterans and their dependents, including the Ryan Iannelli Veterans Lounge, a Student Veterans Association, and a dedicated military liaison on staff.

Transforming lives via scholarship, service, and the Christian faith is the mission of Oklahoma Christian University, a small private university located in northeast Oklahoma City. The school has many international relationships and encourages all students to study abroad at their campus in Vienna, Austria's ninth district. Additionally, Oklahoma Christian University offers a one-year accelerated Master of Business Administration program in the African nation of Rwanda. Ongoing international mission opportunities are also organized by the university, including a two-week mission project in Catacamas, Honduras, for students majoring in nurs­ing, sci­ence, Span­ish, and education. Oklahoma Christian - which is affiliated with the Churches of Christ - was founded in 1950 and currently has 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Located in the small town of Goodwell, Oklahoma Panhandle State University is a public university that focuses on degrees in agriculture, business, and technology. You'll find niche associate and bachelor degrees that are hard to find elsewhere, including a Bachelor of Science in Meat Science, a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management, and an Associate of Science in Fire Protection. Oklahoma Panhandle also has many unique student activities, such as competitive livestock and crops judging teams, a shooting sports club, and a Women in Agriculture club. The university's collegiate rodeo team has won numerous national championships and offers rodeo scholarships. Oklahoma Panhandle State University was established in 1908 and currently has about 1,700 undergraduate students enrolled.

Rogers State University is a medium-sized public university in the town of Claremore, Oklahoma, that offers mostly associate and bachelor's degrees in a wide range of disciplines. Specific undergraduate degrees offered include a Bachelor of Science in Justice Administration, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photographic Arts, and a Bachelor of Science in Community Counseling. Students in the school's Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Sciences can specialize in athletic training, physical therapy, or occupational therapy. The university has over 150 generous endowed scholarships, including several for nursing students. Many grants and scholarships are also available to students who are Native American. Overall, 84% of Rogers State students receive some type of financial aid, and 50% graduate debt free.