Oklahoma State University is a public land-grant research university in Stillwater, Oklahoma, founded in 1890 as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College. The institution emerged from the land-grant movement and opened classes in 1891 before it had permanent buildings, books or a fully developed curriculum. Agriculture, mechanical arts and practical education shaped its early mission. Over the following century the university expanded into a broad research institution with major programs in agriculture, engineering, business, arts and sciences, education, human sciences, aviation and veterinary medicine. Oklahoma A&M became Oklahoma State University in 1957, reflecting the broader academic scope that had developed by the mid-20th century. OSU’s main campus in Stillwater serves as the flagship of a wider university system. Undergraduate students can study fields ranging from accounting, agricultural business and animal science to aerospace engineering, architecture, computer science, economics, finance, hospitality, mechanical engineering, psychology and strategic communication. Graduate education includes master’s and doctoral programs across science, engineering, agriculture, business, education and other disciplines. The College of Veterinary Medicine provides professional veterinary education, while the Center for Health Sciences and other system campuses extend the university’s professional and statewide footprint. Research and outreach are closely tied to OSU’s land-grant identity. Faculty and students work in agriculture, food systems, energy, engineering, materials, aerospace, unmanned systems, fire and emergency management, business analytics, health, natural resources and community development. Cooperative Extension and agricultural experiment programs connect university research with communities and industries throughout Oklahoma. Students can also gain experience through undergraduate research, InternOSU, internships, study abroad, entrepreneurship and employer-connected projects. First-year admission offers both assured and holistic pathways. Students can apply through the OSU Application or Common Application. Test scores are optional for admission, but OSU states that official ACT or SAT scores are required for most university scholarships. Assured admission can be earned through published combinations of GPA, class rank, core-course GPA or test scores, while other applicants can be considered holistically. Applicants must complete a 15-unit high-school core including English, mathematics, history or citizenship, laboratory science and additional approved courses. For 2026-27, estimated tuition and fees for a 30-hour undergraduate load are about $14,070 for Oklahoma residents and $31,000 for nonresidents; total cost depends on housing, food, books and personal expenses. Career Services supports students through coaching, job and internship resources, career fairs, employer engagement and the First Destination Survey. Public OSU reporting discussed by the Board of Regents for FY2024 indicated that the university knew the destinations of about 73% of graduates in that cohort and that roughly 90.75% of those with known outcomes had a positive career outcome, including employment, continuing education or military service. OSU’s combination of land-grant access, strong applied programs, statewide service and employer-connected education makes it a major public university in the southern Great Plains.