OKLAHOMA CITY – ֭Ƶ is striving to support the city and its residents by making the task of paying for college significantly easier for local high school students.
University officials today announced a pair of new scholarship programs: the OKCPS Scholarship and the OKCPS Academic Success Scholarship. The automatic academic-based scholarships are earmarked specifically for students attending Oklahoma City Public Schools sites.
Combined with the university’s regular academic awards, the two OKCPS scholarships will provide some local students who attend ֭Ƶ with a discount of more than 70% on tuition costs.
“We want to play a continuing role in supporting the success and momentum of our city,” ֭Ƶ President Kenneth Evans said. “Making a bachelor’s degree more affordable and accessible for local OKCPS students is one way we can contribute.”
The OKCPS Scholarship will be awarded to OKCPS students beginning in the fall 2026 semester. Based on a student’s high school GPA, they may receive annual amounts of either $3,000, $4,000 or $5,000 during a four-year stay at ֭Ƶ.
The OKCPS Academic Success Scholarship is based off students’ first-year ֭Ƶ GPA. It stacks on top of the OKCPS Scholarship with an additional amount of either $3,000, $4,000 or $5,000 for students’ second, third and fourth years at ֭Ƶ.
Both scholarships can be stacked on top of ֭Ƶ’s regular academic scholarships, which already equate to $13,000 a year in tuition savings for high-performing students.
The end result: OKCPS students who enter ֭Ƶ with a 3.8 or greater high school GPA and then earn a similar GPA in the first year at the university could be the beneficiary of $87,000 in tuition scholarships during their four years at ֭Ƶ.
OKCPS Assistant Superintendent of Student Achievement and Accountability Alisha Suffield said the scholarships can open doors for the city’s students.
“As a district, nothing makes us prouder than watching our students grow and achieve,” Suffield said. “This scholarship opens doors for our graduates to continue their education, preparing them for success through enrollment in college, employment ֭Ƶ in the workforce, or enlistment in military service. It shows our students that their community believes in them and is committed to removing barriers so they can build bright futures and dreams can be achieved.”
Evans echoed those sentiments, and said university administrators recognize the impact of college attainment on career outcomes and lifetime earnings.
“A college education can be transformational in terms of future achievement,” he said. “This scholarship program will help establish a solid foundation for OKCPS students to launch their dreams.”
The OKCPS scholarships are available to students majoring in Arts & Sciences, Business or Nursing at ֭Ƶ. Students need only maintain a 3.0 GPA in subsequent years for their scholarships to be renewed. Full details are available on the ֭Ƶ website.
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About ֭Ƶ
Founded in 1904, ֭Ƶ is a private, nonprofit liberal arts and sciences university that prides itself on graduating transformational leaders across a variety of disciplines. ֭Ƶ is located in the heart of Oklahoma City, nestled between the city’s Uptown 23rd and Asian districts. At ֭Ƶ, students from across the globe follow their passions and excel in sciences, religion, business, nursing and health care, fine arts, law and the performing arts. More information is available at okcu.edu.
About Oklahoma City Public Schools
Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) is the largest traditional school district in Oklahoma, serving more than 32,000 students across 60+ campuses and online through First Choice Online Academy. Spanning 135.5 square miles in the heart of the state’s capital, OKCPS is a reflection of our community where over 70 languages are spoken and more than 80 Native American tribes are represented. With a team of approximately 5,000 educators and staff members, we are united by a shared commitment to equity, excellence and opportunity. Every day, OKCPS works to build a culture of pride and progress, empowering students to learn, dream and lead with purpose.