The University of Oklahoma is the flagship public research university of Oklahoma, based in Norman just south of Oklahoma City. OU is nationally recognized for petroleum and geological engineering — born from the state's energy industry — and for its School of Meteorology, which partners with the co-located National Weather Center and NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory to lead the world in severe-weather research. The Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre is one of the top BFA programs in the country, and SEC football at Owen Field is a defining cultural force on and off campus.
Mascot: Sooner
Notable Alumni
Shannon Miller (most decorated U.S. gymnast)•Olivia Munn (actress and producer)•Baker Mayfield (Heisman-winning NFL quarterback)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Campus Experience
OU is Sooner culture first and everything else second — football Saturdays at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium are the main event of the week, and the move to the SEC in 2024 only raised the temperature. Greek life is a genuine force (roughly 20-25% of undergrads affiliated) and drives much of the party and philanthropy calendar along with the Campus Corner strip across Lindsey Street. The student body skews Oklahoman, friendly, and proudly regional. Outside the headline programs, academics are manageable rather than intense, which lets the social life breathe.
A cohesive "Cherokee Gothic" campus of warm red-brick and pale stone buildings with gabled roofs, set among broad lawns and the iconic South Oval anchored by Evans Hall and the Bizzell Memorial Library clock tower. Consistently ranks among the more handsome public-university campuses in the country.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
OU Police Department operates 24/7 with patrols, emergency blue-light phones, a SafeWalk escort service, and a campus-wide emergency alert system. Most incidents are liquor-law and drug-related disciplinary referrals; serious violent crime on campus is rare.
Norman is a small college city of ~128,000 with violent crime rates below the Oklahoma state average and well below Oklahoma City. The Campus Corner district and neighborhoods immediately around OU are generally safe and walkable.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Monday through Friday during the academic year, with Saturday tours available on select dates. Discover OU open-house events offered several times per year.
Duration: ~2 hours (30-min admissions presentation + 90-min student-led walking tour)
Tours depart from the Visitor Center in Jacobson Hall at 550 Parrington Oval. Separate Honors College, Price College of Business, and Gallogly College of Engineering departmental visits can be added on. Contact admissions at (405) 325-2252 or admrec@ou.edu.
Book a TourSelf-guided walking tour PDF and interactive online map available from the admissions site. The South Oval loop takes about an hour on foot and covers the most iconic buildings.
Tour ResourcesSeptember through early November for football Saturdays and comfortable 70s weather, or March through April for spring on the South Oval when the Redbuds bloom. Avoid late June through August (Oklahoma summers run 95-100°F with humidity) and the worst of severe-weather season can produce tornado warnings in April-May. A Bedlam or SEC home game weekend is an unforgettable experience but campus and Norman hotels fill months ahead.
Visitor parking is free with a virtual permit — register online before your visit. Jacobson Hall visitor lot at 550 Parrington Oval is closest to the admissions center; overflow at the Stubbeman Avenue Parking Garage. Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) is 25 minutes north via I-35. Oklahoma City's Amtrak Heartland Flyer stops in Norman at the downtown station, 10 minutes from campus. Walking around campus is easy; the free CART bus system connects campus with Norman neighborhoods.
Location
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