Regents approve budget that advances student success, workforce development and OSU's long-term strategic vision

The OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved the Oklahoma State University System budget for fiscal year 2027 during its regularly scheduled meeting.

The FY 2027 operating budget for the OSU System — the largest university system in the state — totals $1.89 billion, with $1.16 billion of that allocated for general university operations. The OSU System includes: OSU-Stillwater, OSU-Tulsa, OSU-Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station.

The budget includes a 4.75% increase in tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students at OSU-Stillwater and OSU-Tulsa. Room and meal plan rates for OSU-Stillwater will remain flat for the upcoming year.

For in-state undergraduate students at OSU-Stillwater and OSU-Tulsa, tuition and mandatory fees will increase by $14.60 per credit hour, or $438 annually, based on 30 credit hours. Nonresident undergraduate students will see an increase of $39.15 per credit hour.

Despite significant inflationary pressures and rising operating costs, this marks OSU’s first tuition and mandatory fee increase in four years — and only the second increase over the last eight years.

At the same time, OSU is intentionally expanding scholarship support and financial aid opportunities to help offset costs for students and families. In the fall, OSU launched The Code Calls, a comprehensive branding and $2 billion fundraising initiative that includes significant investments in student scholarships and support services. OSU is also continuing to prioritize workforce development, aligning degree programs with career opportunities and partnering with business and industry leaders to produce graduates to fill critical roles across the state and elevate the Oklahoma economy.

“Oklahoma State University has worked very hard to keep higher education affordable and accessible for students and families across Oklahoma,” OSU President Jim Hess said. “Students are at the center of every decision we make, and this adjustment helps ensure we can continue investing in academic programs, career readiness and the overall student experience that prepares our graduates to meet the challenges facing our state.”

OSU has prioritized affordability and access for students and families and continued to invest in academic programs, student support services and research initiatives while maintaining the highest credit rating for any public institution of higher education in the state.

Like organizations across every sector, OSU is facing increasing costs related to utilities, technology, employee compensation, facilities and other essential services that support the student experience. Even with this increase, OSU remains more affordable than the national average among major public research universities and is the top value public university in Oklahoma.

The approved budget also includes tuition and mandatory fee adjustments at OSUIT, OSU-Oklahoma City, OSU-CHS and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

In-state graduate students at OSU-Stillwater and OSU-Tulsa will see a 4.75% increase, or $17.15 per credit hour, while nonresident graduate students will also see a 4.75% increase, or $47.80 per credit hour. Annual amounts are based on 24 credit hours for graduate students.

The budget is designed to balance affordability with continued investment in the people, programs and services that support OSU’s land-grant mission. Dr. Hess said the university remains deeply committed to keeping an OSU education within reach for students and sustaining the institution’s excellence for future generations of Cowboys from every corner of Oklahoma and beyond.

“Our responsibility as a land-grant university is not only to provide access, but to provide value — preparing students for meaningful careers, leadership and lifelong success,” Hess said. “We understand that any increase matters to families. This decision was made thoughtfully, carefully and with the long-term strength of the institution and our students in mind.”

The board also approved OSU’s next strategic plan, Answering the Call: A Strategic Vision for the State’s University, which will formally launch this fall.

“President Hess has provided steady, visionary leadership during his first year as president of the OSU System, and I am confident that his leadership will continue to strengthen and advance the institution for years to come,” said OSU/A&M Board of Regents Chair Rick Walker. “His commitment to aligning the OSU System around a shared strategic vision, fostering collaboration and enhancing the student experience is already making a meaningful difference, and the OSU System is well-positioned to build on its strengths and expand its impact on the students and communities we strive to serve across Oklahoma.”