First day of classes

Sooners during the first day of classes on Aug. 19.

 Annie Davenport/OU daily

OU welcomed its largest first-year class, according to a Monday press release, marking the fourth-consecutive recording breaking year for OU. 

Of 5,615 students in the class of 2028, 25.4% are first-generation students and 83 are Davis United World College Scholars. Compared to the 5,198 freshmen in the class of 2027, the newest class has increased by 8%.

The class of 2028 had an average GPA of 3.63 and average ACT score of 26. Of the first-year students, 650 have a high school GPA of 4.0 or better and 243 students were ranked first in their high school graduating class. Additionally, 759 first-year students qualified for Oklahoma’s Promise, a 3% increase from last year.

“As more students than ever choose OU, I am honored to welcome such an exceptional freshman class to our university,” OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. wrote in the release. “As we continue to educate some of the nation’s brightest minds and prepare them for lives of impact, this record-breaking freshman class represents a significant milestone for OU and a crucial step for our state’s future. By bringing these talented individuals to OU, we are preparing them to excel and contribute significantly to our state's workforce initiatives."

To accommodate growing class sizes, OU anticipates the opening of the first of two new residence halls in fall 2025. Designed with a small community atmosphere in mind, the North building will provide 525 additional beds for incoming first-year students. The new residence halls will also feature accommodations including a convenience store, coffee shop, lounges, outdoor spaces and more.

Jeff Blahnik, vice president for the Division of Enrollment Management and executive director of the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, wrote in the press release this group of students are joining during an exciting era of growth at the university. 

“We are thrilled to welcome the largest incoming freshman class in the history of the University of Oklahoma, marking a pivotal moment in our ongoing transformation,” Blahnik wrote. “Our commitment to providing a world-class experience and fostering meaningful connections ensures that their OU degree will be a powerful asset in their futures.”

This article was edited by Peggy Dodd.

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