# University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma

> public university in Oklahoma, United States

**Wikidata**: [Q7896279](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7896279)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Science_and_Arts_of_Oklahoma)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/university-of-science-and-arts-of-oklahoma

## Summary
The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) is a public liberal arts university located in Chickasha, Oklahoma, founded in 1908. It is the only public liberal arts college in the state and emphasizes undergraduate education in the arts, sciences, and humanities. USAO is part of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) and is recognized for its historic campus, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1908 as the Oklahoma College for Women, transitioning to co-educational in 1965.
- Public liberal arts university and member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC).
- Total enrollment of 733 students and 190 employees as of 2020.
- Admissions rate of 36% and yield rate of 37% in 2020.
- Campus located at 17th Street and Grand Avenue, Chickasha, OK, with coordinates 35.0314° N, 97.9547° W.
- Classified as a "Baccalaureate College: Arts & Sciences Focus" by the Carnegie Classification.

## FAQs
### Q: When was the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma founded?
A: The university was founded in 1908 as the Oklahoma College for Women, becoming co-educational in 1965 and adopting its current name in 1987.

### Q: What type of institution is USAO?
A: It is a public liberal arts university, classified as a "Baccalaureate College: Arts & Sciences Focus" by the Carnegie Classification.

### Q: How competitive is admission to USAO?
A: As of 2020, the university had an admission rate of 36% and a yield rate of 37%, indicating moderate selectivity.

## Why It Matters
The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma plays a unique role as Oklahoma’s only public liberal arts institution, providing accessible, high-quality undergraduate education focused on critical thinking and interdisciplinary learning. Founded in 1908, it has a long history of empowering students through small class sizes and a curriculum rooted in the arts and sciences. Its inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places underscores its cultural significance, while its membership in organizations like COPLAC and the Association of American Colleges and Universities reflects its commitment to academic excellence. USAO addresses the need for affordable, rigorous liberal arts education in a state dominated by larger research universities, fostering a community of scholars prepared for graduate study, professional careers, and civic engagement.

## Notable For
- Oklahoma’s only public liberal arts college, emphasizing undergraduate education in the arts, humanities, and sciences.
- Historic campus with buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP reference number 01000950).
- Member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).
- Carnegie Classification as a "Baccalaureate College: Arts & Sciences Focus" with a focus on undergraduate education.
- Competitive athletics program, the USAO Drovers, competing in the NAIA.

## Body
### History
- Founded in 1908 as the Oklahoma College for Women, one of the first public institutions of higher education for women in the U.S.
- Became co-educational in 1965 and renamed the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in 1987.
- Campus features historic buildings, including Troutt Hall, contributing to its NRHP designation.

### Academics
- Offers 20+ undergraduate majors in the arts, sciences, and humanities, with no graduate programs.
- Student-faculty ratio of 12:1 (as of 2020 data), supporting personalized instruction.
- Classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a "Baccalaureate College: Arts & Sciences Focus" and "Exclusively Undergraduate Four-Year."

### Campus & Demographics
- Located in Chickasha, Oklahoma, at 17th Street and Grand Avenue (postal code 73018-5322).
- Serves approximately 733 students (2020 data) with 190 employees.
- Diverse academic programs include biology, psychology, English, and fine arts.

### Athletics & Culture
- Competes in the NAIA as the USAO Drovers, with teams in sports like basketball, soccer, and volleyball.
- Active social media presence, including Twitter (@usaodrovers) and Instagram (@usaodrovers), with over 1,900 followers as of 2021.

### Memberships & Recognition
- Member of COPLAC, AAC&U, ACE, and AASCU.
- Recognized for historic preservation and academic quality, with a focus on undergraduate liberal arts education.

## References

1. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240120073011/https://secure.aacu.org/iMIS/AACUR/Membership/MemberListAACU.aspx)
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240120080233/https://acememberdirectory.azurewebsites.net/)
6. [Source](https://aascu.org/our-members/)
7. GeoNames
8. Freebase Data Dumps
9. [Source](http://www.usao.edu)
10. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
11. GRID Release 2015-12-14
12. GRID Release 2016-12-06
13. Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
14. Quora
15. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
16. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
17. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)