OU Welcomes Largest Freshman Class in History

University of Oklahoma banner with logo, on campus in Norman, OK

Photo: CRobertson / iStock Editorial / Getty Images

The University of Oklahoma (OU) is celebrating a milestone as it welcomes its largest freshman class in history. With 6,251 incoming students, the Class of 2029 marks the fifth consecutive year of record freshman enrollment at OU. This achievement also signifies the third consecutive year that a record number of Oklahomans have chosen to start their college journey at OU.

The university attributes this growth to its focus on "affordable excellence" and strategic investments in its "Lead On, University" Strategic Plan. OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. expressed enthusiasm for the new class, stating, "The Class of 2029 symbolizes the unmatched value of an OU education that is rapidly drawing students and families from across Oklahoma and beyond."

The incoming class boasts an impressive average high school GPA of 3.64, with 711 students having achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA. Additionally, 330 freshmen graduated first in their high school class, and 117 are Oklahoma State Regents’ Scholars. The university has also seen a 1.5% increase in Oklahoma’s Promise recipients, with 770 first-year students qualifying for the program.

To accommodate the growing class sizes, OU has invested in new facilities, including the recently opened McCasland Hall, a state-of-the-art residence hall for first-year students. A second residence hall is scheduled to open in fall 2026. The university is also expanding its Life Sciences Laboratories Building to provide additional classroom and research space.

OU's total enrollment has now surpassed 36,500 students across all campuses, reflecting a 16% increase in total fall term student enrollment at the Norman campus. With these numbers, OU is well on its way to meeting Governor Kevin Stitt's challenge to reach 40,000 students by 2030, as noted by KFOR.


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