Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University is the land-grant flagship in Stillwater, a college town between Oklahoma City and Tulsa, with a Georgian-brick campus, a loyal Cowboy football following, and about 23,000 undergraduates. Admission stays accessible for a flagship: roughly 74% of applicants earn an offer, and enrolled first-years carry an average high school GPA near 3.76 with middle-50% ACT scores of 20–27. Business and marketing is the largest field at about 25% of bachelor's degrees, followed by engineering and OSU's signature agriculture programs. Low in-state tuition and large automatic merit scholarships pull in a steady out-of-state crowd, who make up 38% of the entering class.
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Oklahoma State admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
Oklahoma State does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Oklahoma State is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Oklahoma State's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 70.7% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Oklahoma State does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Oklahoma State weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Oklahoma State's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $15,521 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Oklahoma State admissions
What is Oklahoma State University's acceptance rate?＋
OSU admitted about 73.7% of applicants for Fall 2025, offering admission to roughly 20,600 of 28,000 applicants and enrolling about 5,200 first-years. It is accessible for a public flagship, and applicants who meet the assured-admission benchmarks have a strong shot, though some majors and the Honors College set a higher bar than the overall rate.
Is it harder to get into Oklahoma State from out of state?＋
No. Out-of-state applicants are admitted at a slightly higher rate than Oklahoma residents. For Fall 2025, OSU admitted about 79% of out-of-state applicants versus 74% of in-state applicants, while international admits ran near 18%. State residency is listed as a 'not considered' factor in OSU's review, so where you live carries no weight at the point of admission.
What GPA do you need to get into Oklahoma State?＋
Enrolled first-years average a 3.76 high school GPA, and academic GPA, class rank, and your essay all factor into OSU's holistic review. There is no single cutoff, but applicants with a 3.0 GPA and a top-third class rank generally clear the assured-admission threshold, so solid grades give you a strong position.
Is a 1200 SAT good enough for Oklahoma State?＋
Yes, a 1200 is competitive at OSU. It sits in the upper half of enrolled first-years, whose middle 50% scored 1060–1250 on the SAT and 20–27 on the ACT. A score in that range also helps you qualify for OSU's automatic merit scholarships, which reward higher test scores and GPAs.
Is Oklahoma State University test-optional?＋
Yes. OSU lets you apply without SAT or ACT scores, and you indicate on the application whether you want to be reviewed test-optional. Only about 17% of enrolled first-years submitted the SAT and 63% the ACT. Strong scores still pay off, because most university scholarships require an official ACT or SAT result to be considered.
How much does Oklahoma State cost out of state?＋
Out-of-state tuition and required fees run about $24,764 a year, compared with $9,243 for Oklahoma residents. OSU narrows that gap with large automatic merit scholarships tied to GPA and test scores, and about 43% of students receive need-based aid with an average package near $18,220.
What are the most popular majors at Oklahoma State?＋
Business and marketing is the largest field at about 25% of bachelor's degrees, followed by engineering near 13% and agriculture around 10%, a signature strength of this land-grant university. The biological and life sciences, psychology, and computer and information sciences round out the most-awarded areas.
Does the application essay matter at Oklahoma State?＋
Yes. OSU weighs the application essay alongside GPA, class rank, test scores, and recommendations in its holistic review, and it matters most for applicants applying under the alternative-admission path rather than assured admission. A specific, well-revised essay gives reviewers the context behind your grades and is a real way to strengthen a borderline application.
Source: Oklahoma State University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-10. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Oklahoma State. Banner photo by Jacobredway, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).