Top 5 Schools in Oklahoma
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa was founded in 1894 as a private, Presbyterian university; it has subsequently developed to become 'one of the sleeper gems of the Great Plains' by the Princeton Review. Its undergraduate enrollment is currently 2,882 students, making the school small enough to provide personalized instruction. Among its many prestigious academic programs, its petroleum engineering department is among the world's best. Currently, the University of Tulsa is ranked #91 by US News and World Report. The student body also enjoys an excellent quality of life and was ranked sixth among all colleges in the 'quality of life' category in Princeton Review.
University of Oklahoma
In 1890, before Oklahoma even became a state, the University of Oklahoma opened its doors in Norman. The school occupies the position of #108 on US News and World Report's list of America's Best Colleges and has also been recognized for many years as having the highest per-capita enrollment of National Merit Scholars among all public universities. OU enrolls 19,573 undergraduates in one of 153 academic programs and has a nationally-recognized meteorology department. Many students and faculty can also be found cheering on the Oklahoma Sooner football team, which is a perennial contender for national champions.
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University was founded in 1890 in Stillwater as an agricultural and mechanical college. Its focus on mechanical engineering and agriculture remains, as the university enjoys acclaim for these two programs. There are 18,895 undergraduates on OSU's campus enjoying what Princeton Review has names as one of the nations 'Best Value' colleges. Another area of particular distinction is the campus's department of architecture, which has won the second-highest number of international competitions. Much of student life in the winter and spring months revolves around OSU's nationally-ranked basketball team and the games at the storied Gallagher-Iba Arena.
University of Central Oklahoma
Founded in 1890 as a training school for teachers, the University of Central Oklahoma still has the state's largest and most respected schools of education. The campus is located in Edmond, OK and currently enrolls 14,309 undergraduates. UCO also boasts of a nationally-recognized jazz studies division, and students regularly can be found performing at the nearby Jazz Lab. As the state's third-largest university, UCO continues to offer residents of Oklahoma a world-class education with the convenience of close proximity to Oklahoma City.
Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University is located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, right at the foot of the Ozarks. Established in 1851 in what was then Indian Territory, the school has grown to enroll 8,362 undergraduates. This small community is also the capital of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and more Native American Students are enrolled at Northeastern State than at any other public university. NSU also has Oklahoma's only College of Optometry.
