Oklahoma State University Undergraduate Enrollment Reaches All-Time High

Oklahoma State has released its enrollment numbers for the fall 2016 semester and the Stillwater campus has reached an all-time high, at 20,277 (70 more students than the fall 2015 semester.) The total undergrad enrollment combining the Stillwater and Tulsa campuses also broke the previous record, at 21,093 students, according to the Oklahoman.

Oklahoma State President Burns Hargis presented the numbers to the meeting of the Board of Regents several weeks ago, explaining that despite a 16 percent budget cut for higher education, tuition was only raised 7 percent.

“I think this demonstrates not only do we have record enrollment and record fundraising, but we also are maintaining a lower cost than everybody in the Big 12 and way below the average land grant university,” Hargis said.

This is actually probably pretty close to accurate. According to College Tuition Compare (can’t believe that’s a real site), it’s a battle between OSU, OU and Iowa State for cheapest in-state tuition. Or it was in 2015. The numbers have not been updated to reflect 2016 figures.

Additionally, Hargis stressed how vital Oklahoma State continues to be for the state’s overall economy.

“We bring in from out of state $340 million a year,” Hargis told the Oklahoman. “Any economist would multiple that by 3 to 5 times. It’s well over a billion dollars in impact.”