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Private nonprofit, 4-year

Oklahoma City University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · www.okcu.edu

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Acceptance rate

77.0%

2025

Peer median 70.9%

Tuition per year

$34,754

$46,418 with room and board

Peer median $43,496

Undergraduates

1,514

Student-faculty ratio 11:1

Peer median 12 : 1

Graduation rate

60.2%

4-year; 6-year rate 69.3%

Peer median 54.8%

“Peers” are all 219 private national universities, the same comparison used in this page's data notes.

About

Oklahoma City University is a private non-profit four-year institution located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The university is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and offers a comprehensive range of academic programs, spanning undergraduate liberal arts, professional graduate degrees, and specialized tracks in healthcare and legal practice. It is evaluated within the US News American university rankings. Students benefit from the university's location in Oklahoma's capital city, which provides access to state government offices, regional corporate employers, and extensive metropolitan medical centers. The institution emphasizes practical pre-professional training alongside an active performing arts presence in theater, music, and dance. With an intimate campus environment situated in an urban setting, the university serves both traditional undergraduate students and working graduate professionals preparing for specialized careers.

Oklahoma City University offers a moderately priced private education paired with solid completion outcomes. For the 2025 academic year, undergraduate tuition was $34,754, which is higher than 28% of peer schools in the all private comprehensive universities comparison group. The institution devotes significant resources directly to teaching, allocating an estimated $15,705 per student toward instructional expenses in 2024. Completion rates reflect consistent student progress. In 2025, the four-year graduation rate reached 60.2%, while the six-year graduation rate reached 69.3%, which is higher than 54% of peer institutions. Retention remains stable as well, with most first-year students continuing into their sophomore year. For prospective applicants and their families weighing educational value, the university combines below-median private tuition with reliable graduation timelines, making it a dependable option for completing an undergraduate degree without paying top-tier private university prices.

This collegeRanked colleges nearby

Setting
Large city
Nearest major city
In Oklahoma City
Nearest international airport
Tulsa International Airport (TUL), about 100 mi
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Academic calendar
Semester
Religious affiliation
United Methodist
President
Kenneth Evans (President)
Phone
4052085000
City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Address
2501 N Blackwelder, Oklahoma City, OK 73106-1402

Rankings & Admission

Acceptance rate (%)

Peer median 70.9% · all 219 private national universities

Acceptance rate by gender, 2025

Men
72.5%
Women
79.7%

In 2020: men 70.3%, women 76.6%.

U.S. News National Universities · last 10 years
#223 #246 #269 #292 2020: #240 2021: #241 2022: #239 2023: #234 #234 2024: #280 2025: #296 2026: #301 #301 20202026

Best #234, lowest #301, latest #301 over the last ten years.

Data insights

Admissions at Oklahoma City University are accessible, giving qualified applicants a favorable path to entry. The university's position in the US News rankings moved from 240 in 2020 to 301 in 2026. For the 2025 admissions cycle, the school recorded an acceptance rate of 77%, which is higher than 60% of peer schools in the all private comprehensive universities comparison group. Although most applicants receive an offer, drawing admitted students remains competitive. The university recorded an enrollment yield rate of 20.5% in 2025, which is higher than 66% of peer institutions. Because roughly one out of every five admitted students chooses to enroll, the institution maintains an accommodating admissions threshold rather than turning away large pools of candidates. Applicants with consistent high school preparation will find their credentials competitive for general admission, while the university continues to navigate its draw in a crowded private higher education landscape.

School and Program Rankings

U.S. News school and program rankings · Click a school to see its programs, and a program for its full ranking

Ranks in blue are top 10 · ▲▼ change from the previous edition · “—” means no overall ranking for that school · Medical schools are ranked in tiers since the 2025 edition

Test Scores

2025 admitted students, 25th–75th percentile · 33% submitted SAT, 50% submitted ACT · SAT/ACT optional: considered if submitted

SAT total1050–1260Peer median 1263
ACT composite21–27
SAT Reading
540–650
600700800
SAT Math
510–610
600700800
ACT composite
21–27
253036

Data insights

Oklahoma City University has an admissions test policy that is optional, considered if submitted. For 2025, the university reported published score ranges where the middle composite ACT range extended from 21 to 27. In mathematics and English, students similarly posted scores across the low to high twenties. For students submitting SAT results, the median SAT score stood at 1160 in 2025. When evaluated against peer institutions, this median SAT score was higher than 27% of peer schools among all private comprehensive universities. Regarding test reporting trends in 2025, ACT submissions were more prevalent than SAT submissions among enrolled students. Overall, these metrics indicate that applicants submitting standardized test results generally demonstrate solid foundational preparation in reading and mathematics, giving prospective families a realistic reference point for the academic profile of the student body.

How Hard Is It to Get In

about 8 in 10

2,124 applicants in 2025, 77.0% admitted

1,636 admitted 488 not admitted Yield 20.5%

Degrees & Majors

Graduates in 2025 (first major)

Bachelor's35916 international (4.5%)
Master's310127 international (41.0%)
Doctoral2010 international (0.0%)
Top 10 Bachelor's majors by graduates
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing
120
Music Performance, General
30
Dance, General
24
Exercise Science and Kinesiology
19
Acting
19
Finance, General
15
Music Teacher Education
11
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
10
Psychology, General
9
Corrections
7

U.S. studentsInternational

Popular graduate programs

  • Law · Doctoral140 (0% international)
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General · Master's94 (99% international)
  • Business Administration and Management, General · Master's54 (2% international)
  • Physician Assistant · Master's36 (0% international)
  • Data Analytics, General · Master's29 (90% international)
  • Physical Therapy/Therapist · Doctoral27 (0% international)

Data insights

Graduation conferrals at Oklahoma City University are heavily concentrated in specialized professional tracks rather than traditional liberal arts. Among undergraduate degrees awarded in 2025, the top three programs accounted for 48.5% of all bachelor graduates. Adult Health Nurse/Nursing was by far the largest undergraduate major, producing 120 graduates, followed by programs in music performance and dance. Post-graduation earnings collected in 2023 reflect clear differences across disciplines: registered nursing graduates achieved median first-year earnings of $78,640, whereas performing arts disciplines such as drama, dance, and music saw median earnings under forty thousand dollars. Graduate studies also focus tightly on pre-professional fields, with master degrees led by computer science and business, alongside doctoral awards in law and physical therapy. None of the graduate specialty programs hold national ranks within the top one hundred. Students choosing Oklahoma City University generally align their studies with specific career credentials in healthcare, law, and the stage.

All majors, graduates and earnings IPEDS · College Scorecard

*Depends on whether majors have graduates in 2025 or not, Yes / No
**Move mouse on can check deitaled graudates number, click for major detailed information
***Due to privacy policy, graduate salaries are not shown for some majors that has few gradautes

Health professionshas 221 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Physician Assistant.$120,597
Physical Therapy/Therapist.-
Nursing Administration.$78,640-$127,965
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing.$78,640-$127,965
Nursing Practice.$78,640-$127,965
Legal professionshas 148 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Law.$59,395
Legal Professions and Studies, Other.-
Visual and Performing artshas 134 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Dance, General.$28,513
Game and Interactive Media Design.-
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.$32,075
Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology.$32,075
Acting.$32,075
Cinematography and Film/Video Production.-
Music, General.$26,090-$42,289
Music Performance, General.$26,090-$42,289
Music Theory and Composition.$26,090-$42,289
Conducting.$26,090-$42,289
Voice and Opera.$26,090-$42,289
Computer and information sciencehas 98 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Computer and Information Sciences, General.-
Businesshas 96 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Business Administration and Management, General.$97,345
Accounting.$67,934
Business/Managerial Economics.-
Finance, General.-
Marketing/Marketing Management, General.-
Psychology has 39 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Psychology, General.-
Clinical Psychology.-
Applied Behavior Analysis.-
Multi/inerdisciplinary studies has 31 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Data Analytics, General.-
Financial Analytics.-
Parks, recreation, leisure has 19 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Exercise Science and Kinesiology.-
Educationhas 19 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Art Teacher Education.$39,927
English/Language Arts Teacher Education.$39,927
Music Teacher Education.$39,927
Drama and Dance Teacher Education.$39,927
Social sciencehas 15 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Criminology.-
Economics, General.-
Political Science and Government, General.-
Sociology, General.$49,574
Biologyhas 14 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.-
Biomedical Sciences, General.-
Biochemistry.-
Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology.-
English has 12 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
English Language and Literature, General.-
Creative Writing.-
Homeland security has 7 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Corrections.-
Communication has 7 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Journalism.-
Sports Communication.-
Liberal arts has 5 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
General Studies.-
History has 2 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
History, General.-
Philosophy has 2 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Religion/Religious Studies.-
Physical scienceshas 1 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Chemistry, General.-

Students

2,966 students in 2025 · Undergraduate men to women 34:66 · Freshman retention 83.9%

Undergraduate race and ethnicity (1,514)

White
922 · 60.9%
Hispanic
200 · 13.2%
Two or more races
133 · 8.8%
Black
92 · 6.1%
International
75 · 5.0%
Asian
44 · 2.9%
Unknown
15 · 1.0%

Data insights

The student body at Oklahoma City University totaled 2,966 students in 2025, divided between undergraduate cohorts and a substantial graduate division. Across undergraduate levels, White students make up the largest demographic group, followed by Hispanic and multi-ethnic peers. International and Asian students represent small shares of the undergraduate population, with only 6 international students entering in the 2025 freshman class. In contrast, international presence is concentrated at the advanced level, where 229 international students formed 15.8% of the graduate cohort in 2025. Asian students make up smaller proportions across both divisions. Consequently, daytime undergraduate campus life reflects predominantly domestic and regional student backgrounds, while advanced graduate degree programs draw a wider global cohort.

Oklahoma City University exhibits a distinct age difference between its undergraduate and graduate populations. In 2025, undergraduate classrooms were dominated by traditional college-age students. Those aged 18 to 19 accounted for 40.9% of all undergraduates, while students aged 20 to 21 represented 37.2%, leaving older undergraduates as a small minority. In contrast, the graduate student body is broader in experience and age. Students aged 22 to 24 made up 37.5% of graduate enrollment, and those aged 25 to 29 represented 27.8%, with additional students continuing into their thirties and beyond. This demographic structure creates a classic collegiate environment for undergraduates progressing straight from high school, while graduate divisions reflect an older community of early-career professionals and returning adult learners.

International Students

International share over the last 10 years · gray line: median of all 219 private national universities

Undergraduates5.0%

75 in 2025 · 12.2% in 2016

0% 7.5% 15% 2016: 12.2%2017: 12.7%2018: 10.3%2019: 9.2%2020: 5.3%2021: 5.2%2022: 5.0%2023: 4.3%2024: 4.9%2025: 5.0%
2016Peer median 4.1%2025
Graduate students15.8%

229 in 2025 · 15.5% in 2016

0% 10% 20% 2016: 15.5%2017: 14.8%2018: 10.5%2019: 7.0%2020: 7.2%2021: 5.0%2022: 2.7%2023: 9.1%2024: 15.3%2025: 15.8%
2016Peer median 6.4%2025

Data insights

International student enrollment at Oklahoma City University has shifted noticeably toward graduate education over the past decade. Undergraduate international presence experienced a long-term decline, settling at 5% of all undergraduates in 2025, which remains higher than 58% of peer schools in the all private comprehensive universities comparison group. In contrast, graduate programs expanded their international reach, with international students making up 15.8% of all graduate students in 2025. Degree completion data highlight this difference: international students received 4.5% of bachelor degrees and zero doctoral awards, but accounted for 41% of all master degrees awarded in 2025. Furthermore, graduate international students concentrate heavily in specific technical fields, comprising 98.9% of graduates in general computer and information sciences. Prospective international undergraduates will join a small global cohort, whereas those entering graduate computing programs will find an internationally focused student peer group.

Cost

2025 cost per year

$46,418

Undergraduate tuition
$34,754
Room and board
$11,664
Graduate tuition
$13,590
Tuition and room and board over time

Peer median tuition + room and board $57,550 · all 219 private national universities

Tuition rose 13% from 2016 to 2025; room and board rose 18%.

Finances · fiscal year 2024

Revenue$70.5M

Tuition and fees
$50.4M71.6%
Gifts and private grants
$18.5M26.2%
Auxiliary enterprises
$5.4M7.7%
Government grants and contracts
$648K0.9%
Sales and services of educational activities
$576K0.8%
Investment return
-$6.7M-9.4%
Other
$1.6M2.3%

Expenses$80.5M

Instruction
$43.4M53.9%
Student services
$12.1M15.0%
Institutional support
$10.9M13.5%
Academic support
$7.4M9.2%
Auxiliary enterprises
$6.7M8.3%

Average faculty salary · 2025 (9-month equivalent)

Dark gray ticks: median pay for the same rank at all 219 private national universities

All faculty
$69,991peers $84,198
Professor
$79,434peers $106,692
Associate professor
$69,616peers $88,236
Assistant professor
$66,556peers $76,983
Instructor
$55,117peers $63,488

Campus Life

Athletics and varsity athletes NAIA · Sooner Athletic Conference

Sooner Athletic Conference: basketball, baseball, cross country

2025
NAIA Division I MENWOMEN
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)4542
Soccer2922
Wrestling2518
Other Sports-40
Baseball31-
Basketball1314
Rowing166
Golf99
Volleyball-17
Softball-15
2024
NAIA Division IMENWOMEN
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)8972
Soccer2727
Wrestling2127
Baseball38-
Basketball1915
Rowing227
Golf910
Volleyball-19
Softball-16
Other Sports--
2023
NAIA Division IMENWOMEN
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)7467
Soccer2526
Wrestling2318
Baseball31-
Basketball1611
Golf1113
Rowing144
Other Sports-17
Softball-15
Volleyball-13

Nearby & Safety

Ranked colleges nearby

Data insights

Families exploring higher education in the region have several prominent alternatives within driving distance of Oklahoma City University. Located 20.5 kilometers away in Norman, the University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is a major public research institution ranked 116 among national universities. To the northeast, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus is situated 50.8 kilometers away in Stillwater and holds a national university rank of 191. For those considering another private option in Oklahoma, the University of Tulsa is located 100.2 kilometers away and holds rank 148 in the national university category. Across the state line in Kansas, Wichita State University sits 154.2 kilometers to the north with a national rank of 288.

Campus safety · incidents per 1,000 students

Peer median 5.5 · all 219 private national universities

Incidents, 2023–2025

Burglary
33
Liquor referrals
18
Rape
12
Fondling
8
Motor vehicle theft
6
Drug arrests
6

From the Clery Act campus safety reports schools file, covering on-campus, non-campus and public property.

Data insights

Campus safety at Oklahoma City University is characterized by a moderate incident profile with low rates of violent disruption. In 2025, the university recorded a crime rate per 1,000 students of 9.8. Across the three-year reporting period from 2023 to 2025, property offenses represented the most frequent concern, with 33 reported theft incidents taking place on campus. Disciplinary referrals for alcohol violations accounted for 18 incidents over those same years. Interpersonal and drug-related infractions occurred less often, including reports of sexual assault, stalking, and drug arrests. The figures indicate that daily student life is rarely disrupted by severe crime, though common urban property risks like unattended theft remain an area where students should practice routine caution.

Notable Alumni

All 25

Notable alumni of Oklahoma City University include Kristin Chenoweth (Actress and singer, 1999 Tony Award winner), Cathy O'Donnell (Actress in The Best Years of Our Lives) and Lakshmi Manchu (Indian actress and film producer).

See all 25 notable alumni of Oklahoma City University →

Recent News at Oklahoma City University

Summarized daily from the school's official news. Click "Source" for the original story.

3Updates in the past 12 months
Oct 14Latest update
Programs & rankingsMost common topic
  1. New program

    Oklahoma City University will add a Dance Science track to its BA in Dance and an accelerated MA in Arts Administration pathway, completable in as little as 4.5 years, from fall 2027.

    Source: okcu.edu
  2. New program

    Oklahoma City University launched OCU Pathways, an adult degree-completion program awarding credit for work, life and military experience, at $390 per credit hour, or $250 for military and certain other groups.

    Source: okcu.edu
  3. Leadership

    Oklahoma City University President Kenneth R. Evans announced he will retire on June 30, 2027, and the university will begin a national search for its 20th president.

    Source: okcu.edu

References and Data Sources

Data from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education), U.S. News, THE, QS, ARWU and Clery Act campus safety reports. Data insights are written by the Forward Pathway data team from public data.