Founded in 1890, 17 years before Oklahoma achieved statehood, the University of Oklahoma is the flagship public research university of Oklahoma. Spanning a scenic 3,500-acre campus in Norman featuring signature Cherokee Gothic architecture, red-brick structures, and expansive green quads, OU combines aviation training, meteorology, petroleum engineering, business analytics, and SEC athletic traditions. You can examine its founding charter, territorial origins, and campus evolution through the University of Oklahoma Wikipedia historical entry.
When you join the student body at OU, you enter a premier public research enterprise located inside a welcoming college city. Living in Norman places you 20 miles south of downtown Oklahoma City, giving you direct access to state capitol offices, corporate energy firms, medical centers, and cultural districts.
Premier Academic Programs
OU hosts 18 specialized colleges delivering accredited undergraduate and graduate instruction across diverse fields:
- Michael F. Price College of Business: AACSB-accredited business school famous for entrepreneurship, corporate finance, energy management, and accounting. Explore degree options on the Price College of Business portal.
- Gallogly College of Engineering: Global leader in biomedical engineering, industrial systems, computer science, and civil infrastructure.
- Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy: Top-ranked international center for petroleum engineering, subsurface geology, and energy geosciences.
- College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences: World-renowned program operating in partnership with the National Weather Center.
- University of Oklahoma College of Law: Premier public law school delivering comprehensive training in energy law, native American law, and trial advocacy.
"Civi et Reipublicae, translated from Latin as For the Citizen and the Republic, serves as the official motto of the University of Oklahoma."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily undergraduate student experience centers on the Bizzell Memorial Library, the South Oval, and the Oklahoma Memorial Union. School spirit revolves around Boomer and Sooner, the beloved white ponies pulling the Sooner Schooner, alongside costumed mascots who lead student cheers during NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference athletic events. You can read about spirit traditions and athletic programs on the official Oklahoma Sooners Athletics portal. Cheering inside Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium alongside 85,000 fans, singing Boomer Sooner, and joining over 550 student clubs creates an extraordinary campus culture.
Research Infrastructure and Meteorological Discovery
OU operates an extraordinary multi-billion-dollar research enterprise deeply connected with severe storm forecasting and radar physics:
- National Weather Center (NWC): Unique federal-university facility housing federal storm prediction agencies and university atmospheric researchers.
- Stephenson Cancer Center: National Cancer Institute-designated cancer research center driving novel drug discovery and clinical trials. Learn more via OU Research Operations.
- Advanced Radar Research Center (ARRC): World-leading radar research lab developing phased-array radar systems for atmospheric monitoring.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of Super Bowl champions, Olympic gold medalists, Supreme Court advocates, and corporate titans, including:
- Troy Aikman: Three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback, Pro Football Hall of Famer, and broadcaster who studied at OU.
- Shannon Miller: Seven-time Olympic medalist gymnast and Hall of Famer who earned her law degree at the University of Oklahoma.
- Blake Griffin: Six-time NBA All-Star and former No. 1 overall NBA draft pick who starred in basketball for the Sooners.
- Anita Hill: Attorney, author, and legal scholar who served as a university law professor at OU.
OU provides full tuition coverage for eligible Oklahoma undergraduate families through the Crimson Commitment financial aid program. Review complete application steps and deadlines on the official OU Undergraduate Admissions portal.