The University of Oklahoma is a public flagship research university headquartered in Norman, Oklahoma. Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, before Oklahoma became a state, OU has developed into a comprehensive institution serving students through undergraduate, graduate, professional, and research programs. The Norman campus is the center of most academic activity, while health-related education is concentrated on the university’s Health Campus in Oklahoma City, and additional programs are offered in Tulsa. OU reports more than 30,000 students across the university and organizes its academic work through 20 colleges. Its portfolio includes bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, doctoral-professional, and graduate-certificate programs, with particularly visible strengths in engineering, energy, meteorology, business, journalism and mass communication, education, the arts, law, public affairs, health sciences, and the liberal arts and sciences. OU describes its mission around teaching, research and creative activity, and service to the state and society. That mission is reflected in research centers, laboratories, museums, libraries, health programs, entrepreneurship resources, and partnerships that connect the university with Oklahoma communities and industries. The Norman campus supports a broad residential undergraduate experience, including honors study, research, student organizations, athletics, study abroad, service, leadership, and experiential learning. Graduate and professional students work in programs that range from humanities and social sciences to engineering, atmospheric science, law, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, nursing, and allied health fields. First-year admission is holistic and test optional. Applicants can choose whether ACT, SAT, or CLT scores should be considered. Students who apply without scores are still reviewed for admission and academic scholarship opportunities, with the high-school transcript, grade point average, course rigor, activities, leadership, essays, recommendations, and other application information contributing to review. Applicants who submit scores may use self-reported results initially, although official results are required before enrollment when a scholarship or admission decision depends on them. Degree-specific requirements can differ, particularly for selective, professional, performance, and health programs. For 2026–27, OU uses flat-rate undergraduate tuition for full-time students on the Norman campus. A typical first-year student taking 15 credit hours in Arts and Sciences is estimated at $7,278.75 per semester for an Oklahoma resident and $16,617.75 per semester for a nonresident, including tuition, mandatory fees, and the applicable college program and technology fees. Housing, meals, books, transportation, insurance, and personal costs are separate from those semester estimates. Scholarships, grants, tuition waivers, work opportunities, and need-based aid can reduce net cost. Career preparation is supported through advising, employer engagement, internships, job-search resources, career fairs, and alumni connections. Because career outcomes vary substantially by college, degree, location, and student goals, applicants should use program-level outcome information rather than treating OU as having one universal placement rate or salary figure. Its scale supports broad interdisciplinary study across the university.