The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education today approved slight increases to tuition and mandatory fees for Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities. Tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students will increase an average of 1.3% statewide for the 2021-22 academic year.
Thirteen institutions across the state system of higher education are not increasing tuition and mandatory fees in 2021-22.
“The COVID-19 crisis significantly impacted our public colleges and universities,” said State Regents’ chair Ann Holloway. “This modest increase at some institutions in our state system will help them continue to focus on increasing college degree completion in key areas of workforce demand, including engineering, STEM, nursing, and other health professions.”
On average, a full-time Oklahoma college student will pay $80.96 more for tuition and mandatory fees in 2021-22.
“The State Regents and our public institutions remain committed to keeping higher education affordable for Oklahoma students,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “Our state system of higher education is recognized by U.S. News & World Report for having the 11th-lowest tuition and fees and 11th-lowest student debt level at graduation in the nation. This slight tuition and fee increase will assist our higher education institutions in the advancement of academic innovations, strengthening student services and expanding workforce development initiatives.”
The University of Oklahoma, Norman is increasing tuition and mandatory fees 2.7% for in-state undergraduates. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater and Tulsa is increasing tuition and mandatory fees 2.5% for in-state undergraduates.
Public regional university tuition and mandatory fee increases average 1.3% for in-state undergraduates.
Oklahoma’s public community colleges will increase in-state tuition and mandatory fee rates by an average of 1.0%.
State law requires tuition and mandatory fees to remain at levels below the average among comparable institutions, and Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities continue to keep tuition and mandatory fees well within those limits.
The law also requires the State Regents to make a reasonable effort to increase financial aid across the state system proportionate to any increase in tuition. Tuition waivers and scholarships provided by state system institutions will increase 7.0% from FY 2021.
In addition, the State Regents administer Oklahoma’s Promise, a state scholarship program that allows high school students from middle- and low-income families to earn a college tuition scholarship. Beginning in 2021-22, the Oklahoma Legislature expanded eligibility for the program by increasing the family income limit from $55,000 to $60,000 and extending the enrollment window through the 11th grade. An estimated 15,000 students will earn the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship in 2021-22.