OU’s placement in the U.S. News and World Report went up in the 2024 rankings after the publication changed its formula.
OU now ranks at 124 in the new U.S. News and World Report ranking of national universities, 11 spots higher than in the 2023 list, according to an OU News press release.
U.S. News and World Report changed its formula this year for finding the best colleges in the country, applying more weight to attributes like first-generation student graduation rates and students receiving need-based financial assistance.
In a statement to OU Daily, OU spokesperson April Sandefer wrote the changes in the formula were significant to OU, as they can be directly connected with pillars of the strategic plan. The increased emphasis on financial accessibility aligns with Pillar 3, “Make OU’s Excellence Affordable and Attainable,” Sandefer wrote.
OU also held its ranking as the top university in the state, followed by Oklahoma State University and University of Tulsa.
The Wall Street Journal also released an article ranking universities, using the expected price of a degree at a given institution compared to the average annual income made after graduation to determine the value. OU ranked 194 on the list, almost 70 universities below OSU.
The Big 12, which OU is leaving for the Southeastern Conference after the 2023-24 football season, on average ranks lower than schools in the SEC for both the Wall Street Journal and the U.S. News and World Report lists. Big 12 schools’ average rank is 178 in value and 137 in the national ranking. Meanwhile, SEC schools’ averages are 148 in value and 136 in the national ranking.
University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M rank above OU on both lists, though OU is ranked above the University of Mississippi on the U.S. News and World Report list and below it on the value list.
“At OU, our constant focus is to provide a life-changing academic experience at an exceptional value, and it is rewarding to see this recognition of our progress,” OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. wrote in the release.
This story was edited by Taylor Jones and Alexia Aston. Sophie Hemker and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
