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University of Tulsa Slashes Undergraduate Tuition From $54,000 to $25,000
The private university says the donor-funded cut, taking effect for students entering in fall 2027, will make it the most affordable private research university in America's heartland.
By THRYV Life Desk·Published August 15, 2026·Updated August 15, 2026·4 min read
Education · Illustration commissioned for THRYV. Photography is replaced with original imagery as each story is produced.
The takeaway
The University of Tulsa announced August 11 it will cut undergraduate tuition and fees from $54,000 to $25,000 a year, locked in for four years, starting with students entering in fall 2027. Funded by private donations, the change also holds current students harmless if their costs would otherwise exceed the new $25,000 rate.
The University of Tulsa announced August 11 that it will cut undergraduate tuition and required fees roughly in half, from $54,000 to $25,000 a year, for students entering in fall 2027 — a rate the private university says will be locked in for all four years of a student's enrollment.
Who benefits
The new $25,000 rate applies to incoming undergraduates starting fall 2027. Current undergraduates aren't left out: the university says it will "hold harmless" existing students, providing additional scholarship funding if their out-of-pocket costs would otherwise exceed $25,000. The change does not extend to graduate or professional degree programs.
How it's funded
University president Stacy Leeds said the initiative is funded entirely through private gifts and donations, not new debt or reduced academic spending. "For undergraduate students entering in the fall of 2027, tuition and required fees will be $25,000 — and we are locking that rate for four years," Leeds said in announcing the change.
Broaden access and invest in the future of Tulsa, and ensure Tulsa's best and brightest have no barriers to accessing excellence.
Stacy Leeds, President, University of Tulsa
Why it matters
The University of Tulsa is positioning the cut as making it the most affordable private research university in America's heartland, at a moment when sticker-price tuition at many private universities has climbed well past $60,000 a year and public skepticism about the value of a four-year degree has grown. The announcement comes as U.S. colleges broadly report enrollment pressure and increased price sensitivity among prospective students and families.
What prospective students should know
The $25,000 figure covers tuition and required fees only — room, board, books and other costs are separate. Students should confirm with the university's financial aid office exactly which fees are included and how the policy interacts with existing scholarships and federal aid.
Sources
This article is original writing by THRYV. We link to primary reporting and official documents rather than reproducing them.
Written and edited in-house by the THRYV Life Desk. We do not republish or reword agency copy, and we do not invent quotes, statistics, testimonials or ratings. Where figures move frequently, we point you to the primary release rather than printing a number that will be out of date. Advertising and affiliate partnerships have no influence on our reporting — see our editorial standards, fact-checking policy and affiliate disclosure. Spotted an error? Write to newsroom@thryv-news.com.
General information only. Not personalised financial, medical or legal advice.
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