For the past 10 years, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences has seen record enrollment growth every fall semester.

And the streak continues in 2026 with 22% enrollment growth from last year, when OSU-CHS surpassed 2,000 students for the first time.

OSU-CHS President Johnny Stephens said more than a decade of continued growth speaks to the strength of the institution’s academic programs and the tremendous work of faculty and staff.

“Surpassing 2,500 students is an incredible milestone, but what amazes me most is what that growth represents. We are expanding access to high-quality graduate education and preparing more healthcare professionals, scientists and leaders with the skills to meet the evolving needs of Oklahoma and beyond. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, and I’m even more excited about where we’re headed,” Dr. Stephens said.

In addition to the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, OSU-CHS encompasses several graduate programs, including the schools of Biomedical Sciences, Forensic Sciences and Health Care Administration (HCA), as well as the Athletic Training and Physician Assistant programs.

A major factor in OSU-CHS's continued growth is that the HCA and Forensic Sciences programs are now fully online, enabling greater expansion of degree programs and creating more opportunities for students.

“We recognized early on that many students needed flexibility because they were balancing careers, families and other responsibilities. As we expanded high-quality online learning and adapted programs to meet workforce needs, students responded,” said Aaron Christensen, director of Graduate Programs at OSU-CHS. “Sustained growth over a decade suggests that our programs continue to provide value and meet the needs of today’s learners.”

This fall, the HCA and Forensic Sciences programs once again saw the biggest enrollment increases of 24.3% and 17.8%, respectively.

Bavette Miller, Ph.D., chair of the School of Health Care Administration, and Jason Beaman, D.O., chair of the School of Forensic Sciences, both said a big driver of growth in their schools is the new doctoral degree programs that launched in the last few years.

“This growth shows we have a high-quality, student-focused vision for training healthcare administrators to better strengthen the healthcare workforce,” Miller said.

And having both schools offer their degree programs virtually means more flexibility not only for students, but for faculty as well.

"Our students are learning from the leaders in the field — professors who are at the pinnacle of their careers and expertise,” Beaman said. “Our degrees are valued, recognized and respected around the world and especially in federal and local law enforcement agencies and their forensic departments.”

OSU-CHS currently offers 29 degree and graduate certificate programs with additional programs expected to launch soon.

Christensen said his team is highly focused on providing a quality education as well as a great student experience.

“We want students, especially those studying online, to feel connected to OSU-CHS and know they are part of the Cowboy family. That means continually improving services, supporting academic units, evaluating programs and ensuring students are aware of the resources available to them,” he said. “Growth is important, but sustaining a high-quality student experience is what will ultimately drive our success in the future. Every enrolled student chose OSU-CHS to help them advance their education and career. That is something all of us here can be proud of.”