Langston University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Langston University

Former names	Oklahoma Colored Agricultural and Normal University (1897–1941)
Motto	Education For Service
Type	Public land-grant historically black university
Established	March 12, 1897 (1897-03-12)
Parent institution	Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical Colleges
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
Endowment	$49 million (2019)
President	Ruth Ray Jackson
Students	1,873
Location	Langston , Oklahoma , United States
Campus	Rural
Colors	Blue & Orange
Nickname	Lions
Sporting affiliations	NAIA – Sooner

Langston University (often called LU) is a public university in Langston, Oklahoma. It is a special kind of school known as a land-grant and historically black university (HBCU). It is the only historically black college in Oklahoma. It is also the westernmost four-year public HBCU in the United States.

The main campus is in a country area about 10 miles east of Guthrie. Langston University also has locations in cities like Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The university is part of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. In March 2025, Langston University was recognized as a Carnegie Research College and University. This means it does important research.

History of Langston University

How Langston University Started

The school began in 1897. It was first called the Oklahoma Colored Agricultural and Normal University. From 1898 to 1916, Inman E. Page was its president. Langston University was created because of a law called the Second Morrill Act of 1890. This law said that states with land-grant colleges had to allow African Americans to attend. If not, they had to create a separate school for them. This is why Langston University was founded.

Renaming the University

The university was renamed Langston University in 1941. It was named after John Mercer Langston. He was an important civil rights leader. He was also the first African-American member of Congress from Virginia. He helped start the Howard University Law School. Even before 1941, people often called the school "Langston."

Famous Teachers and Important Events

The famous poet Melvin B. Tolson taught at Langston from 1947 to 1964. He was played by Denzel Washington in the movie The Great Debaters.

In August 2021, the university helped its students. The former president, Kent J. Smith Jr., announced that the school would use special relief money. This money was used to pay off $4.65 million in student debt for those enrolled between spring 2020 and summer 2021.

A new health building opened on the Tulsa Campus on March 30, 2023. It was named the Jack Henderson Allied Health Facility on August 2, 2024. This 17,000 square-foot building is home to the Langston University School of Nursing and Health Professions.

President Kent J. Smith Jr. retired at the end of the Spring 2023 semester. Ruth Ray Jackson became the interim president on July 6, 2023. In April 2024, she was officially named the university's 17th president. Her official ceremony was on March 14, 2025.

Langston University Law School

A law school was started at Langston University in 1948. This happened after a Langston graduate, Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, was not allowed into the University of Oklahoma's law school. She was denied because she was black. She took her case to the U.S. Supreme Court and won. Oklahoma then created a law school at Langston University. However, this new law school was not as good as the one she wanted to attend. So, she sued again and finally gained access to the University of Oklahoma's law school.

Academics at Langston University

Langston University has six main schools. These schools offer many different study programs. They include the Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, and the School of Arts and Sciences. There is also a School of Business, a School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, and a School of Nursing and Health Professions. Finally, there is a School of Physical Therapy. In total, LU offers 30 different programs for undergraduate students. It also has six programs for graduate students.

According to US News and World Report, 18% of students at Langston graduated within four years in 2025.

The university has a special program for smart students called the Edwin P. McCabe Honors Program. This program is for undergraduate students who have excellent grades.

Langston University also offers a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. This program started in 2005. It is the only doctoral program at the university. It is also one of only three DPT programs in Oklahoma.

The Higher Learning Commission officially approves Langston University. This means the university meets high standards for education.

Langston currently has the lowest cost per credit hour compared to other four-year universities in Oklahoma. BestValueSchools ranked Langston as the #1 best value among all HBCUs.

Athletics at Langston University

A football game between the Langston Lions (left) and North American Stallions in 2023

The sports teams at Langston University are called the Lions. The university is part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Since the 2018–19 school year, they have mostly competed in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Before that, the Lions were part of the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). They were also in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) from 1931 to 1957.

Langston has nine different sports teams for college students. For men, there is basketball, football, and track & field. For women, there is basketball, cheer, softball, track & field, and volleyball.

The Marching Pride Band

Langston University Marching Pride performing during halftime of a Dallas Renegades game

Langston's marching band is known as the "Langston University Marching Pride." This band is a big part of the university. They support the sports teams at games. They also help students who want to work in music or learn important life skills. Charlie Wilson from The Gap Band used to be a drum major for the band.

The Marching Pride has performed for many professional sports teams. These include the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Kansas City Chiefs. They have also marched in front of huge crowds at big stadiums like the Georgia Dome and AT&T Stadium. They have been in the Honda Battle of the Bands four times, often performing for over 40,000 people. Students in the Marching Pride can often get help with out-of-state tuition fees and extra scholarships.

Notable People from Langston University

See also

• KALU, Langston U. Public Radio Station 89.3 FM