Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Research Universities in Oklahoma 2026

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST IN OKLAHOMA RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

By Dr. James Barham

Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Interested in attending a STEM school in Oklahoma? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.

Key Takeaways

Oklahoma’s top research universities, like the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Oklahoma State University (OSU), have specialized research centers focused on energy, oil, and natural gas, giving students unique opportunities to work on projects related to renewable energy, petroleum engineering, and sustainable resource management, aligned with Oklahoma’s key industries.
Universities like OU Health Sciences Center offer students access to cutting-edge medical research facilities and interdisciplinary collaboration in areas such as cancer research, neurology, and public health, providing hands-on experiences in clinical trials, healthcare technology, and disease prevention.
Oklahoma State University, in particular, excels in aerospace engineering and aviation research, offering students opportunities to work with industry leaders on projects in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), flight technology, and aviation management, supported by partnerships with NASA and leading aerospace companies.

Table of Contents

Best Research Universities in Oklahoma in 2026

University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
+1
University of Tulsa
–1
Oklahoma City University

For students weighing STEM-focused graduate programs or undergraduates seeking hands-on research experience, this 2026 guide highlights Oklahoma’s leading research universities and explains how they differ in mission and opportunity. We identify 4 research universities in Oklahoma and rank them based on clear inclusion criteria: full institutional accreditation and the availability of doctoral degrees across STEM fields, plus demonstrable institutional emphasis on research activity and student-faculty research access (see full list).

This introduction previews what the ranking evaluates—doctoral breadth, undergraduate research pathways, lab and funding capacity, and prospects for graduate training—so you can quickly compare programs by the factors that matter for STEM careers and advanced study.

Best Research Universities in Oklahoma

Last Year’s Ranking:
1. University of Oklahoma
2. University of Tulsa
3. Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
4. Oklahoma City University
#1
University of Oklahoma
Norman , OK
#1 Best Grad Schools in Oklahoma 2026 #1 Best Colleges in Oklahoma 2026 #1 Best Public Colleges in Oklahoma 2026 #1 Cheapest Colleges in Oklahoma 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
73%
Graduation
76%
Student body
32K
Median SAT/ACT
1230/26
Career Outlook for degree at University of Oklahoma
Cost of Degree: $9,595
Expenses: $20,891
Starting Salary: $61,900
Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Oklahoma known for?

University of Oklahoma’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Earth Sciences
History
Social Work
Business
Law
Education
Medical
Anthropology
Sociology
Engineering

Most Influential Alumni

Gregory Benford
Eugene Landy
Gladys West
Thomas W. Gilligan
Henry T. Lynch
Huey Long
Dean Wooldridge
Azar Nafisi
Pat Choate
Troy Aikman
Jim Butcher
James Garner
Compare school
#2
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
Stillwater , OK
#2 Best Grad Schools in Oklahoma 2026 #2 Best Colleges in Oklahoma 2026 #2 Best Public Colleges in Oklahoma 2026 #2 Cheapest Colleges in Oklahoma 2025
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
65%
Student body
27K
Median SAT/ACT
1130/23
Career Outlook for degree at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
Cost of Degree: $10,110
Expenses: $18,000
Starting Salary: $55,300
Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Oklahoma State University–Stillwater known for?

Oklahoma State University–Stillwater’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Engineering
Mathematics
Physics
Philosophy
Sociology
History
Biology
Communications
Business
Chemistry

Most Influential Alumni

Jeffrey Beall
Nachman Aronszajn
Chester Gould
Garth Brooks
Anita Hill
Reba McEntire
Gebisa Ejeta
J. Tinsley Oden
J. N. Reddy
Joseph W. Westphal
Behrokh Khoshnevis
Gene Nichol
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater’s Online Degrees
BS in Early Child Care And Development

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Elementary Education

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#3
University of Tulsa
Tulsa , OK
#1 Best Private Colleges in Oklahoma 2024 #1 Best Small Colleges in Oklahoma 2024 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Oklahoma 2025 #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
Tuition + fees
$47K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
72%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1214/25
Career Outlook for degree at University of Tulsa
Cost of Degree: $48,102
Expenses: $18,086
Starting Salary: $60,500
Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Tulsa known for?

University of Tulsa’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Earth Sciences
History
Engineering
Law
Literature
Business
Communications
Psychology
Education
Chemistry

Most Influential Alumni

Scott Pruitt
Paul Harvey
Marie Tharp
Godfried Toussaint
Hank Haney
Lovie Smith
Robert Hogan
Daniel H. Wilson
Phil McGraw
Rue McClanahan
Nell Jessup Newton
James Westphal
Compare school
#4
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City , OK
#2 Best Private Colleges in Oklahoma 2024 #2 Best Small Colleges in Oklahoma 2024 #2 Best Christian Colleges in Oklahoma 2025 #4 Best Grad Schools in Oklahoma 2026
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
69%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Oklahoma City University
Cost of Degree: $34,486
Expenses: $13,852
Starting Salary: $51,100
Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Oklahoma City University known for?

Oklahoma City University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Law
Medical
Criminal Justice
Political Science
Business
History
Biology
Education
Psychology

Most Influential Alumni

Michael D. Brown
Marian P. Opala
Fred Tackett
Mason Williams
Mickey Edwards
William C. Wantland
Jeane Porter Hester
Chris Harrison
Bill Randle
Kristin Chenoweth
Serene Jones
W. Stephen Smith
Compare school

Build your own college rankings

Find the Best Research Universities in Oklahoma for Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

Check out our directory of research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Research Universities in Oklahoma 2026

Key Takeaways

Best Research Universities in Oklahoma in 2026

Best Research Universities in Oklahoma

Last Year’s Ranking:

University of Oklahoma

Career Outlook for degree at University of Oklahoma

Most Influential Alumni

Oklahoma State University–Stillwater

Career Outlook for degree at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater

Most Influential Alumni

Oklahoma State University–Stillwater’s Online Degrees

University of Tulsa

Career Outlook for degree at University of Tulsa

Most Influential Alumni

Oklahoma City University

Career Outlook for degree at Oklahoma City University

Most Influential Alumni

Find the Best Research Universities in Oklahoma for Your Area of Interest