How to get into University of Oklahoma
How to get into OU: a Big 12 public with the National Merit pipeline and a residential honors college that matter
73%
Acceptance rate
$12,018
In-state cost
$29,136
Out-of-state cost
What makes University of Oklahoma admissions different
The University of Oklahoma is the state's public flagship — roughly 32,000 undergrads in Norman with Big 12 athletics, established programs in petroleum engineering (the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy), the Price College of Business, the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, and the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre. OU admits around 73% of applicants. The school has historically been one of the most aggressive recruiters of National Merit Finalists in the country, with substantial scholarship packages for NMFs that can effectively make OU free or close to it.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through the Common App or OU's direct application. OU operates on rolling-style admissions with priority deadlines for honors and scholarship consideration.
- 2.
Oklahoma residents: confirm Oklahoma's Promise eligibility (state aid program for in-state students meeting income and academic thresholds) and in-state tuition.
- 3.
National Merit Finalists: name OU as your first-choice institution by NMF deadlines. OU's NMF scholarship package (which has varied year to year and was substantially revised in recent admissions cycles — confirm current terms with OU admissions) has historically been one of the most generous in the country.
- 4.
Pick the right college. Mewbourne (petroleum/earth/energy), Price (business), Gaylord (journalism), the Weitzenhoffer School (musical theatre, audition-based), and the Gallogly College of Engineering each have their own program-specific framing.
- 5.
Apply to the Honors College through its separate application. OU Honors is one of the larger public honors colleges in the country with a residential honors community and four-year curriculum.
- 6.
Musical theatre applicants: prepare the audition. The Weitzenhoffer School admits through highly competitive audition.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
National Merit Finalists not confirming current scholarship terms with OU admissions. The NMF package terms have changed in recent cycles — verify before treating it as automatic.
- ✕
Missing the priority deadline for honors and scholarship consideration.
- ✕
Treating OU as a generic backup. The Honors College, the petroleum engineering program, and the Weitzenhoffer musical theatre school have specific reputations.
- ✕
Skipping the Weitzenhoffer audition when applying to musical theatre.
The specifics for University of Oklahoma
What makes this admissions process distinctive
One of the larger public honors colleges in the country, with a residential honors community, smaller seminars, an honors curriculum, and dedicated advising.
National Merit Scholar recruitment
OU has historically been one of the more aggressive recruiters of National Merit Finalists in the country with a substantial scholarship package for NMFs who designate OU as their first-choice institution. Confirm current terms with OU admissions for your cycle — terms have been revised in recent admissions cycles.
Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre
An audition-based musical theatre program with one of the most established BFA Musical Theatre tracks in the country.
What graduates actually do
OU graduates anchor Oklahoma's economy and feed the broader oil and gas industry (Devon Energy, Chesapeake, Continental Resources are major employers). The Price College of Business, the Gallogly College of Engineering (particularly petroleum engineering, consistently top-ranked), and the College of Law are strengths. Many graduates also feed Texas-based energy firms and the broader Plains professional networks.
Notable alumni
- Brad Pitt (briefly attended) — Acting
- Olivia Munn — Acting
- Shannon Miller — Olympic gymnastics (multiple medals)
- James Garner — Acting
- Carl Albert — Politics (Speaker of the US House)
Transfer pathway
OU accepts transfers via Oklahoma's Course Equivalency Project, which articulates courses across all Oklahoma State System institutions. Major feeders include Oklahoma City Community College, Tulsa Community College, and Rose State College. Transfer GPA minimum is typically 2.0+; selective programs (engineering, business, nursing) require higher. The OU-Tulsa campus also accepts transfers for select upper-division programs.
Articulation partners
Oklahoma City Community College · Tulsa Community College · Rose State College · Redlands Community College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
If you're an Oklahoma resident with a B+ transcript and Promise eligibility, OU is a likely admit and a strong in-state value. National Merit Finalists in any state should explore OU's current NMF package — historically one of the most generous in the country and worth confirming directly with OU admissions for the current cycle. The Honors College is the lever for high-achieving applicants regardless of residency.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.