


Courtesy of University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university whose roots go back to Henry Kendall College, founded in 1894 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, by the Presbyterian Church. The college moved to Tulsa in 1907 and adopted the University of Tulsa name in 1920.
Its development reflects both its liberal arts origins and Tulsa's growth as an energy and business center. Engineering and petroleum-related study became important parts of the university, while its academic scope expanded to include health professions, graduate study, and law. The university retains a historical Presbyterian affiliation, though students can pursue programs across a broad range of secular disciplines.
The University of Tulsa offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional education through colleges spanning the arts and sciences, business, engineering, health sciences, and law. Its academic organization includes Kendall College of Arts and Sciences, Collins College of Business, the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Oxley College of Health Sciences, and the College of Law.
Representative undergraduate subjects include psychology, English, computer science, petroleum engineering, finance, nursing, and communication. Graduate and professional options extend to fields such as business, engineering, and law. Applicants should use the current academic catalog to check a particular major's degree requirements: admission to the university does not necessarily mean immediate admission to a competitive or professionally regulated program.
The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 10 to 1. That describes institutional scale, not a promise that every class will have 10 students. Research opportunities and course availability also vary by department and degree level.
The University of Tulsa is in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on an urban campus east of the city's downtown area. Its location gives students access to employers, cultural venues, health care organizations, and other potential internship sites without making the campus a downtown commuter institution.
Students considering off-campus work or housing should account for transportation: travel within Tulsa often depends on a car or a planned transit route. First-year students may register or park a car on campus, subject to university parking rules. Tulsa International Airport is the nearest major airport and is useful for students traveling from other states or countries.
The University of Tulsa describes its mission in terms of educating students for professional achievement, responsible citizenship, and meaningful lives. Its stated educational approach combines liberal learning with preparation in specialized fields and opportunities for research, creative work, and service.
The institution's Presbyterian origins are part of its history and identity, but applicants should distinguish that background from the requirements of an individual academic program. A prospective student assessing the university's stated priorities can look at the curriculum, advising, research access, and service opportunities in the particular college they would enter.
Name of the institution
University of TulsaLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (Presbyterian Church of U.S.A.)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1894University of Tulsa is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.