Oklahoma City University

OCU bills itself as a top liberal arts and sciences university, offering 70+ undergraduate majors and 20 graduate programs, including niche offerings like a PhD in Nursing and performance-focused degrees through its acclaimed Wanda L. Bass School of Music. The most popular majors cluster in three areas:

• Visual and Performing Arts (a particular strength, with ties to OKC’s thriving arts scene)
• Health Professions (notably nursing and physical therapy, the latter boasting a 100% licensure exam pass rate for recent cohorts)
• Business and Management

With an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, classes skew small, and the university emphasizes mentorship. Its Adult Studies Program caters to working professionals with flexible scheduling.

Life at OCU orbits around Greek life (which emphasizes leadership, scholarship, and philanthropy) and the energy of Oklahoma City’s downtown districts, just minutes from campus. Key traits:

• 68% of students live on campus, creating a residential vibe
• Active intramural sports scene complements varsity athletics (the Stars compete in NAIA)
• Proximity to OKC’s music venues, museums, and Bricktown entertainment district blurs town-gown boundaries
• Fraternities and sororities anchor social life, with chapters committed to community service (one student notes they ‘host social events and provide opportunities for community involvement’)

OCU’s 4-year graduation rate sits at 50%, rising to 63% over six years—solid for a regional private university, though below elite benchmarks. Career outcomes vary by program:

• Physical therapy graduates excel, with 96.5% licensure pass rates (Class of 2023)
• The university reports $26,838 average grant aid, reducing financial strain
• Forbes estimates mid-career alumni salaries around $45,408, though discipline-specific data is sparse

Transfer students graduate at lower rates, per federal data, suggesting OCU thrives most with traditional undergrads who engage early with support services.

OCU’s $55,320 sticker price (tuition, room, and board) belies aggressive discounting:

• 99% of students receive institutional aid
• The average net price drops to $23,143 after grants and scholarships
• The university awards $34+ million annually in merit and performance scholarships

Notably, OCU provides a Net Price Calculator to demystify costs, and its aid packages lean heavily on grants rather than loans. For context, the average aid package totals $29,548, making OCU far more affordable than its private peers—if you qualify for merit awards.

OCU punches above its weight in performing arts and health sciences, leveraging Oklahoma City’s cultural assets (like the OKC Philharmonic) for real-world training. Its test-optional policy and high aid awards make private education accessible to mid-tier students, while the 11:1 faculty ratio ensures mentorship rare at similarly priced institutions. The campus vibe blends Greek life traditions with urban energy—think jazz majors jamming in practice rooms by day, then catching indie shows in the Plaza District by night. For students seeking a small-college feel with big-city perks, OCU delivers—provided they maximize its generous scholarships.