OBU Ranked Oklahoma's Number One Private University in Affordability

September 17, 2014

OBU is one of three universities in Oklahoma and the only private Oklahoma university listed on Great Value College's rankings of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the Midwest.

The list is based on eight quality indicators determined by Great Value Colleges to be a good measure of a student's potential experience at an institution. Equal points were awarded for beneficial features, such as low faculty-to-student ratios, high percentages of freshmen retention, high rates of graduation and numbers of student organizations. Colleges that did well in a recent Forbes' ranking of top U.S. schools were given additional points.

Of the hundreds of accredited colleges and universities in the Midwest, only those with tuition fees below the national average were considered for the rankings. No college on the list has an annual net price (the total cost of attendance minus the average aid package) over $22,000.

The rankings list the top 25 public and top 25 private colleges. OBU was the only private school in Oklahoma listed, with a net cost of $16,617. Oklahoma State University was ranked 10th on the list of public institutions with a net price of $14,415 and the University of Oklahoma finished 19th with a net price of $16,780.

"Oftentimes, families assume an OBU education is out of reach for their pocketbooks," said Bruce Perkins, associate vice president for enrollment management. "However, OBU's place in the rankings demonstrates the affordability of attending our university even when compared to public universities within our state."

"Over 30 percent of our operating budget is committed to student financial aid. Therefore, rarely does a student pay the full published price. Less than 2 percent of our entire student body receives absolutely no financial aid. We encourage families not to make decisions based upon assumptions regarding out-of-pocket costs. Rather, walk with us through the financial aid process and let us see what kind of assistance is available. Many families who have done so have been pleasantly surprised."

Read more about the 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the Midwest.