Oklahoma State University facts for kids
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Former names
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Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (1890–1957) Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (1972–1988) |
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| Motto | "Scholarship, Instruction, Service" |
| Type | Public land-grant research university |
| Established | December 25, 1890 |
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Parent institution
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Oklahoma State System of Higher Education - Oklahoma State University/Agricultural and Mechanical Board of Regents |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliation
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| Endowment | $1.48 billion (FY2024) (system-wide) |
| Budget | $1.86 billion (FY2025) (system-wide) |
| President | Jim Hess |
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Academic staff
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1,337 (2019) |
| Students | 26,805 (Fall 2024) |
| Undergraduates | 21,339 (Fall 2023) |
| Postgraduates | 4,669 (Fall 2023) |
| Location |
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United States
36°07′21″N 97°04′11″W / 36.1224°N 97.0698°W |
| Campus | Distant town, 1,489 acres (6.03 km2) |
| Other campuses | |
| Newspaper | The O'Colly |
| Colors | Orange and Black |
| Nickname | Cowboys & Cowgirls |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FBS – Big 12 |
| Mascot | Pistol Pete |
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Oklahoma State University (often called Oklahoma State or OSU) is a large public university in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States. It is a land-grant and research university. This means it was started with land given by the government to teach farming and mechanical arts. It also focuses a lot on new discoveries through research.
The university began in 1890. It was first known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (Oklahoma A&M). The Stillwater campus is the main part of the Oklahoma State University System. This system has over 34,000 students across its five schools. As of Fall 2023, about 26,000 students attend the main university. OSU is known for its "Very high research activity." In 2023, the university spent over $226 million on research.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys and Cowgirls sports teams are very successful. They have won 55 national championships, including 53 NCAA championships. This places them among the top universities for sports titles. OSU students and alumni have also won 34 Olympic medals. Many famous people have come from OSU, including scholars, an astronaut, and a billionaire.
Students at OSU love their Homecoming celebration. It started in 1913 and now brings over 40,000 alumni back to campus. More than 70,000 people join the fun each year. The university calls it "America's Greatest Homecoming Celebration." Over 250,000 people have graduated from Oklahoma State University.
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History of Oklahoma State University
On December 25, 1890, the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature approved the creation of Oklahoma Territorial Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) College. This college was set up under the Morrill Act of 1862. The law said the college had to be in Payne County. Many towns wanted the campus, but Stillwater was chosen. When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, "Territorial" was removed from the name.
The first classes started on December 14, 1891. For over two years, students met in local churches. The first official school building, called Old Central, opened on June 15, 1894. It was built on a flat, open prairie.
In 1896, Oklahoma A&M had its first graduation. Six male students received their degrees. The first library was a single room in Old Central. Williams Hall, built in 1900, was the first campus building with electricity. It was known as the "Castle of the Prairies" because of its unique towers. It stood until 1969.
One of the first buildings was a barn for agricultural experiments. It was near a large pond built in 1895. The barn burned down in 1922. The pond, made bigger later, is now called Theta Pond. It is a beautiful spot on campus. In 1906, Morrill Hall was finished and became a main building. A fire damaged it in 1914, but the outside walls stayed strong, and it was rebuilt.
Students could live on campus starting in 1910. The Boys' Dormitory opened that year. It was later called Crutchfield Hall. This building was important as the first permanent boys' dorm in Oklahoma. It was torn down in 1995 because it was old.
Also in 1910, the Women's Building opened. It was a dorm for female students. It also had a dining hall, home economics classes, and a gym. It is now called the Bartlett Center for the Studio Arts.
By 1919, the campus had several key buildings. These included Morrill Hall, the Central Building, and the Engineering Building. There was also the Women's Building, an Auditorium, an Armory-Gym, and a Power Plant.
During World War II, Oklahoma A&M helped the United States Navy. It was one of six schools chosen to train Navy students in electronics. From 1942 to 1945, about 7,000 Navy students studied there. They had long, intense days of electrical engineering.
Much of OSU's growth came from President Henry G. Bennett. He led the school from 1928 to 1950. He had a plan for how the campus should grow. This plan was followed for over 50 years. It led to the beautiful Georgian architecture style seen across campus. He wanted a central library, which became the Edmon Low Library, opened in 1953. Another big addition was the Student Union, opened in 1950. It is now one of the largest student union buildings in the world.
Oklahoma A&M also started working with other countries in the 1950s. President Bennett led a program to help developing nations. As part of this, OSU helped Ethiopia set up schools and farming programs. The Emperor of Ethiopia even visited the Stillwater campus in 1954.
On May 15, 1957, Oklahoma A&M changed its name to Oklahoma State University of Agricultural and Applied Sciences. This new name showed that the school taught more than just farming. Soon, people just called it Oklahoma State University. The longer name was officially dropped in 1980. The Oklahoma State University System was then created. It includes the main Stillwater campus and other branches in places like Okmulgee and Tulsa.
In 2005, OSU started a "Campus Master Plan." This plan aimed to improve buildings for learning, sports, and offices. Over $800 million was set aside for new construction and updates. The plan included creating an "athletic village" on campus.
In 2006, a former student named T. Boone Pickens gave $165 million to the university's sports department. In 2008, he gave another $100 million for academic programs. This was the largest gift for academics in the state's history. In 2010, Pickens promised another $100 million for scholarships. His total gifts and pledges to OSU reached over $500 million.
Colleges and Programs
OSU has a medical campus that works with the Oklahoma State University Medical Center. This allows students to get hands-on training. OSU also has a medical school campus in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. This is the capital of the Cherokee Nation. It is the first medical school in the country linked with a Native American tribe.
In 2020, the College of Education and Human Sciences was formed. It combined two older colleges into one. In 2021, the university created the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE). This institute focuses on aerospace research and education.
Student Life
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 66% |
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| Two or more races | 11% |
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| Hispanic | 10% |
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| American Indian/Alaska Native | 5% |
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| Black | 4% |
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| Asian | 2% |
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| International student | 2% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 27% |
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| Affluent | 73% |
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On-Campus Housing
OSU offers many places for students to live. There are 31 residence halls and over 15 dining spots. There are also six apartment complexes for families. In recent years, student housing has changed a lot. There are now many apartment-style buildings.
Some older dorms like Willham North and South were taken down in 2005. They were replaced with new suites called the Village. Iba Hall, another traditional dorm, closed in 2007 but reopened in 2011. It was renovated in 2017 and reopened for Fall 2018.
Iba, Parker, Wentz, and Stout Halls are still traditional dorms. In 2015, three new dorms called the University Commons opened. North is for female students, South for male students, and West is co-ed. Kerr-Drummond Hall is planned to be taken down after Fall 2024.
There are also apartments for single students. These include Bost, Davis, and Kamm Halls. Suite-style living is available in the Village buildings. Deluxe suites are in Patchin & Jones and Bennett Halls. Graduate students and families can live in seven apartment "neighborhoods."
Athletics at OSU
OSU competes in NCAA Division I-A. They are part of the Big 12. Their main rival is the University of Oklahoma Sooners. OSU has won 54 NCAA Championships. This is the sixth-highest number among all NCAA schools.
Football Team
The football team has won 11 conference titles. They have played in 34 bowl games. In 1945, they were National Champions. In 1988, Barry Sanders won the Heisman Trophy while playing for OSU. He also set a record for rushing yards in a single season.
Basketball Team
Men's basketball has a rich history at Oklahoma State. The team reached the Final Four in 1995 and 2004. They were the first Division 1 basketball team to win back-to-back National Championships in 1945–1946.
Wrestling Team
The Cowboy wrestling team is incredibly successful. They won their 33rd NCAA championship in 2005. They won their 34th title in 2006. OSU's 34 team titles are the most won by any school in one sport. They have also had 143 individual national champions. This includes Pat Smith, the first four-time champion in the sport.
Other Sports Achievements
Since the 1924 Olympics, 68 Oklahoma State University Olympians have won 31 medals. These include 20 gold, four silver, and seven bronze medals.
School Songs
At OSU events like graduation and sports games, several songs are played. These include The Waving Song, Ride 'Em Cowboys (the official fight song), and the OSU Chant. After every sports game, win or lose, OSU athletes and students sing the alma mater together.
Famous People from OSU
Over 200,000 people who are still living have graduated from OSU. Many of them are very famous.
Notable Alumni
- T. Boone Pickens: A billionaire businessman and giver.
- James Marsden: A well-known actor.
- Ed Roberts: Known as "the father of the personal computer."
- Garth Brooks and Hoyt Axton: Popular country music singers.
- Kevin Stitt and Mary Fallin: Former Governors of Oklahoma.
- Nam Duck-woo and Adnan Badran: Former Prime Ministers of South Korea and Jordan.
- Tom Coburn: A former U.S. Senator.
- Robert A. Whitney: A former acting Surgeon General of the United States.
- Anita Hill: A legal scholar.
Campus Buildings
Listed below are just a few of the buildings at OSU. For a complete list, visit List of Oklahoma State University buildings.
Important Buildings
- O'Brate Stadium – This is where the baseball team plays.
- Bennett Memorial Chapel – A beautiful chapel on campus.
- Boone Pickens Stadium – The football stadium, named after T. Boone Pickens.
- Cowgirl Stadium – Home to the Cowgirl softball team.
- Historic Gallagher-Iba Arena – Named one of the best college sports venues. It is home to practice areas and the famous white maple basketball court. The court is named Eddie Sutton Court, after a former basketball coach.
- National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum – A museum dedicated to wrestling history.
- Student Union – Known as the largest student union in the world.
- Whitehurst Hall – The main administration building.
See also
- Gift of a Lifetime
- List of forestry universities and colleges
- Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
