OU is old. Really old. As in, one of the oldest public universities in the country. And that’s one of the elements that make it so unique. It’s got that quaint, old-timey university feel stirred up by the Federalist and Georgian-style architecture (you know, classic brick with decorative trim). Pass the iron front gate, or the Class Gateway, and you’re on College Green. Like any university, it’s where many of the student activities and just plain hanging out happens. But this space is also surrounded by some of the more vintage campus buildings. Just looking at Cutler Hall triggers visions of traveling on horseback and reading by candlelight. Don’t worry, the buildings are equipped with electricity these days. Newest to join Campus Recreation’s offerings is Walter Fieldhouse, which opened in 2014. In fact, that’s 200 years after the university first opened. The Fieldhouse contains an AstroTurf field for football practices, a running track, and pole vault pits. The dining centers at Shively Hall and Nelson Court look historic on the outside, but their menus are nothing short of progressive. PETA named OU one of the most vegan friendly campuses in the nation. You can enjoy Mediterranean, Mexican, Italian, and home style cuisine made with or without animal products, depending on your preference. Also in 2014, OU began construction on four brand new residence halls. Word has it you can expect suite-style living and more outdoor recreational spaces. That’s good news for future resident students! OU is rooted in history but growing boldly into the future, just like you.

This old public university is by no means lacking in present-day program delivery. Students can complete 12 programs without ever going to campus. If you’re new to college, you can get started by enrolling in an associate’s degree program. The programs cover general study areas—arts and humanities, social sciences, science, business management technology, individualized studies—so each serves as a great foundation for continuing to study at the bachelor’s level. And you don’t have to leave the OU community to earn your bachelor’s, either. You can choose from seven online bachelor’s degree completion programs. This means you need to have already completed an associate’s degree or have earned enough credit hours to enroll in a program. You can choose from applied communication, customer service, technical and applied studies, RN-to-BSN (nursing), applied management, technical operations management, and criminal justice. So you can build the skills to manage, serve, or keep the peace from anywhere. If you’re an Ohio native, note that OU has regional campus locations throughout the state. Whether you live in the south, center, east, or northwest, there may be a campus near you. Explore the regional campuses.

OU’s NCAA Division I Bobcats tout joyful traditions, nine stellar venues, and championship-winning skills. It gets a little bit loud at Peden Stadium. Every time Ohio scores a touchdown, you’ll hear the booming blast of an 1800’s-style military cannon. Also, Ohio’s Marching 110 deserves a little recognition for bringing the heat during its hilarious and impressive halftime performances. They’ve rocked songs like “The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?)” and “Gangnam Style,” which get everyone excited for good ol’ opposing team beatdowns. OU football has made appearances in bowl games each year since 2009. And in 2016 alone, the NFL drafted four players from OU. On the conference level, the volleyball and baseball teams have achieved victories. Volleyball has won eight championships, and baseball has won 15 conference championships. Interested in intramurals? OU students currently play soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis, softball, racquetball, badminton, flag football, broomball, and floor hockey. So you have plenty of ways to pounce on your competition like the Bobcat that you are.

OU offers everything from two-year degrees to Ph.D.’s, so it’s a fitting place for students of all levels and aspirations. It’s also a university with high research activity. Regardless of your academic year, you can work with professors on research projects. You just need to take the initiative. There are over 40 centers and institutes where the research focuses run the gamut: nanoelectronics to avionics, biotechnology to child psychology. The OU community celebrated big breakthroughs in 2016. One team of scientists and a graduate student found a new species of dinosaur, Machairoceratops cronusi, in southern Utah. Another team discovered that, with early intervention, it may be possible to restore normal functioning to diabetic cells in the pancreas. So getting to work on research with an OU research group sometimes leads to widespread recognition and impact. And you might play a crucial part in it! If you like individual attention, OU also offers another unique way to learn: Honors Tutorial College, or HTC for short. Each semester HTC students take one or more small group or one-on-one ‘tutorial’ class. Forget passive lectures. Instead, you’ll learn through intimate student-to-professor and peer-to-peer conversations. You will also pick a topic to study closely in your tutorial classes, and it’ll grow into the subject of a senior project. HTC allows you to take control of your learning, explore unique interests, and build your resume at the same time. What have you got to lose?