Enrollment up at Oklahoma's public colleges and universities, officials report

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s higher education officials reported a 4.5% increase in enrollment by headcount from last fall at the state’s public colleges and universities.

The state’s freshman class also saw enrollment grow by over 1,700 students, or 6.4%, from last year, according to a report from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. This follows enrollment growth trends at some of Oklahoma’s largest public universities.

Total enrollment across the state’s public higher education institutions is just over 169,000 this fall, which is about 7,300 more than 2023. This is the fourth consecutive year with a reported enrollment increase.

“Cost of attendance and student debt at our public institutions are among the lowest in the nation,” Chancellor Allison Garrett said in a statement. “While institutions across the country are experiencing declines in the number of first-year students, freshman enrollment at Oklahoma state system colleges and universities is increasing. This is the trajectory we must continue to see our citizens thrive and our state prosper.”

The state’s research universities, Oklahoma State University and University of Oklahoma, had about 5.8% growth in enrollment by headcount.

Regional university enrollment grew by 3.9%. Of the state’s regional institutions, Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva and Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford saw the most growth.

Community colleges had enrollment increase by 3.4% with the most growth reported at Redlands Community College in El Reno.

The freshman classes at OSU and OU grew by about 7.7%. Regional universities saw freshman enrollment grow by 3.5% and community colleges had a freshman class about 7.4% larger than last year.

Langston University had the largest growth for a freshman class of the regional institutions and Redlands Community College had the highest enrollment growth of community colleges.

The regents also released a report on the enrollment of concurrent students at the state’s public colleges and universities. Concurrent enrollment refers to high school students who are enrolled in some college courses while completing their high school education.

Overall, concurrent enrollment grew by 10.3%.