
Edmond, OKprivate nonprofitwww.oc.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 61%–97% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Oklahoma Christian University is a private Christian university in Edmond where faith, career, and community are explicitly intertwined. It operates with an open-arms admissions philosophy—accepting nearly all who apply—and channels that diverse student body into a hands-on, career-focused education, particularly strong in health professions, business, and engineering. The campus vibe is described as 'laid-back, conservative, and church-going,' with a robust slate of DII athletics and student organizations anchoring a residential experience where over half of students live on campus.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Oklahoma Christian University practices a highly accessible, admissions process. The school does not accept the Common Application and has a regular application deadline of August 30. For the entering class, the middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1010–1270, with the ACT range being 19–26. The average GPA of admitted students is 3.62, with over 50% of admits having a GPA of 3.75 or higher. The university offers a test-optional review path for first-year applicants, allowing them to choose whether to submit ACT, SAT, or CLT scores. The admissions office can be contacted at 405-425-5000 or 800-877-5010, with an email of [email protected].
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
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OC's academic structure is built around a 'streamlined, enriched core curriculum' and is heavily oriented toward direct career pathways. The most popular majors are decisively in professional fields: for the 2024 graduating class, a full 33% of degrees were in Health Professions and Related Programs, followed by Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services at 9%. The university organizes its programs into schools like the College of Business, which alone offers ten majors including Accounting, Finance, and Marketing. Other highlighted areas of study include Art + Design, Bible, Communication, Computer Science, Education, and Engineering. The Princeton Review gives the university an academic rating of 76/99 and a professor accessibility rating of 88/99, describing the student body as 'laid-back, conservative, church-going.' OC has also gained recognition for its online offerings, being ranked as the fourth best online college in Oklahoma and the only private institution to make that top-ten list.
Life at OC is defined by a close-knit, faith-centered community with ample opportunities for involvement. The university promotes itself as a place where 'faith isn't just a subject — it's' a lived experience, and where students find 'calling, career and community.' Over half (57%) of students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, creating a residential campus atmosphere. Student engagement is fueled by more than 60 student organizations and a robust athletics program featuring 20 NCAA Division II and club sports. The overall vibe is described as 'vibrant,' with 'numerous opportunities for social engagement and extracurricular' activities, all within a 'supportive community' focused on personal and spiritual growth.
Outcome metrics at OC show a university where many students persist to graduation and enter the workforce with solid earning potential. The first-year retention rate is 73%. Mechanical engineering is noted as a standout major with a 'notably high average income.' The university reports an average return of 9.2% on its educational investment.
OC employs an aggressive financial aid strategy to manage costs, stating that over 90% of students receive some form of financial aid. The university offers a 'comprehensive financial aid program designed to make OC accessible to qualified students from all backgrounds.' Aid packages include scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. The institution provides a Calculator for families to estimate their actual cost, and the financial aid office can be reached at 405.425.5190. Specific aid programs are available for first-time students who meet criteria like having a FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI) below 720, qualifying for a full Pell Grant, or being part of 'Oklahoma's Promise.' The foundational step for aid is completing the FAFSA, which unlocks federal grants, loans, work-study, and institutional .
Oklahoma Christian University stands out for its unambiguous fusion of Christian faith with pragmatic, career-ready education. It’s not a liberal arts college in disguise; it’s a place where one-third of the graduating class earns degrees in health professions, and engineering programs high earners. This vocational focus is wrapped in a distinctly 'laid-back, conservative' community where over half the students live on campus and spiritual life is actively promoted as central to the experience. Its admissions policy is notably inclusive— and with a high —yet it maintains a respectable retention rate and leverages substantial financial aid to make private education accessible. In a landscape of similar faith-based institutions, OC distinguishes itself with its strong online college ranking, its significant NCAA DII athletic presence, and its clear-eyed mission to deliver 'calling, career and community' without pretense.