Oklahoma Christian sits on the north edge of Oklahoma City, right where it runs into Edmond. It’s a church of Christ school of about 2,200 undergrads, and almost everyone who applies gets in. The real question for most families isn’t admission. It’s which pieces of OC’s money your student qualifies for, and whether a test score is worth sending. At OC it usually is.
GPA 2.5+ with no test; ACT 22+ / SAT 1100+ unlocks $8K and up
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-optional (scores unlock top merit)
Automatic merit has a no-test path
Scores required for competitive awards
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: TBD • FAFSA: TBD
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Ike's Promise (need-based) & National Merit Finalist package
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Oklahoma Christian (Read This First)
Test-optional for admission is not test-optional for the big money. Without a score, the most your student can get from OC’s merit grid is $8,000 a year (and that takes a 3.5 GPA). With a score, the grid goes up to $14,000. Ike’s Promise and the Honors Program also need a score.
Ike’s Promise covers tuition, not the whole bill. It’s a last-dollar guarantee. It fills whatever tuition is left after grants and OC scholarships. Housing, meals, and fees (about $11,000 a year) are still on the family.
The 50% guarantees are a floor, not extra money. The Church of Christ Heritage Guarantee and the Sister School Discount both promise 50% off tuition, but that 50% is built from OC’s own scholarships. If your student’s merit already gets close, the guarantee adds little.
December 1 is OC’s Early Acceptance date for admission. It isn’t a scholarship deadline, but applying and sending scores early gets your student’s full award letter in hand sooner. The Honors Program recommends applying by December 31.
OC’s own scholarship page still lists the old $5,000 “Regents Academic Scholarship.” That state program is now called Rising Scholars, and the amount for private colleges hasn’t been published for fall 2027. Don’t budget the $5,000 until OC confirms it.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Oklahoma Christian University is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).
Do you need test scores for scholarships at Oklahoma Christian University? Tests are optional for admission and for the Dean's ($8,000 with a 3.5 GPA), Eagle, and Maroon and Gray awards. The $10,000 to $14,000 awards, Ike's Promise (20 ACT / 1020 SAT / 66 CLT), and Honors admission all need a score.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 19-26; SAT: 1010-1270.
Average net price? About $22,391/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Oklahoma Christian University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in November 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Oklahoma Christian University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $800 to $2,000 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$39,000
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$29,420
Housing & meals (typical)
$9,580
Total billed cost
$39,000
Average federal net price: $22,391 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Same Price Whether You Live in Edmond or Seattle
OC is private, so there’s no out-of-state tuition bump. Every full-time undergrad pays the same $28,000 in tuition plus $1,420 in required fees. Where residency does matter is state money: OTEG, OTAG, Oklahoma’s Promise, and Rising Scholars only go to Oklahomans. Out-of-state families should build their plan around OC’s merit grid, the $3,000 Kingdom Way Award, and Ike’s Promise. See our Oklahoma state aid guide for how the state programs work.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Oklahoma Christian University
What does a year at OC actually cost before aid?
OC lists $39,000 in direct costs for 2026-27. That’s $28,000 tuition, a $550 student services fee, an $870 technology fee, $4,700 for a standard freshman dorm, and $4,880 for the meal plan. Books, travel, and personal spending aren’t included, so budget a little more.
Is the average net price really around $22,400?
Yes. That’s the federal average for 2023-24 after grants and scholarships. Even families earning under $30,000 paid about $17,800 on average. That’s because housing and meals cost real money even when tuition is covered.
If my student gets Ike’s Promise, what will we still owe?
Ike’s covers tuition. You still owe about $1,420 in fees and about $9,580 for a standard dorm and meal plan, so roughly $11,000 a year. Leftover Pell money, outside scholarships, or work-study can chip away at that.
Do freshmen have to live on campus?
Most do. OC only lets students petition to live off campus if they’re part-time, married or have kids, 23 or older, past 124 credit hours, or living with their parents. Ike’s Promise and the Sister School Discount both require living on campus.
Are there cheaper or pricier housing options?
Yes. Standard freshman and sophomore dorms run $2,350 a semester. Premium dorms are $2,950, and a private room adds $900 when one’s available. Junior and senior apartments run $2,550 to $3,550 a semester.
Does OC need the CSS Profile?
No. OC only uses the FAFSA. File it every year, because OC’s need-based grant, Ike’s Promise, and Oklahoma’s state grants all depend on it.
October of senior year: File the FAFSA as soon as it opens. OC’s OTEG and OTAG money is a fixed pot, and OC publishes no priority date.
Fall of senior year: Apply to OC and send an ACT, SAT, or CLT score. Your merit award is calculated from the application, with no separate form.
December 31: Oklahoma’s Promise final deadline for seniors, and OC’s recommended date for the Honors application.
February 3: President’s Leadership Class application due.
August 1: Church Match and Sister School Discount forms due.
Parent rule of thumb: get the score in before the award letter comes. A score sent later can still change the award, but only if you ask.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Oklahoma Christian University
OC awards merit automatically from the admission application, using a mix of unweighted GPA and ACT, SAT, or CLT score. There’s no separate scholarship application. OC publishes the minimums for each tier but not the formula, and says a higher score can make up for a lower GPA. The grid below is the 2027-28 grid for incoming freshmen.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidApp Required
Rising Scholars Award
📅 Deadline: State Regents application opens in October of senior year; award letters from late February ✓ Renews (3.25 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Oklahoma resident who scores at or above the 99.5 percentile on the ACT or SAT, or is a National Merit Scholar, National Merit Finalist, or U.S. Presidential Scholar. An official ACT superscore is accepted and the science section is not part of the sum (the fall 2026 line was 103 across English, math, and reading). The CLT counts if taken at an in-person site. National Merit Semifinalist status alone does not qualify. The student must start college the fall semester right after high school graduation. Formerly the Academic Scholars Program.
✚
Stacking & Combining
OC's own scholarship page still lists the old Regents Academic Scholarship at $5,000 a year. The program is now the Rising Scholars Award, and the State Regents have not published the private-college amount for fall 2027 starters, so confirm the figure with OC's financial aid office. The cash stacks with OC's academic award; many Rising Scholars are also National Merit Finalists, so ask how it fits with OC's National Merit package.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Oklahoma's top testers and National Merit Finalists who file the State Regents application themselves. Nobody files it for the student, and high schools are not told who won. Automatic qualifiers can transfer to any Oklahoma college at any time.
State AidApp Required
Oklahoma's Promise
📅 Deadline: Application by Dec 31 of senior year (8th to 11th graders asked to apply by Jun 30); income documents due Feb 1 of senior year ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAOklahoma resident who applies in 8th through 12th grade, no later than December 31 of senior year and before high school graduation. At sign-up, the parents' federal adjusted gross income from the most recent completed tax year must be at or under $60,000 with one or two dependent children, $70,000 with three or four, or $80,000 with five or more. Children of Oklahoma public school classroom teachers with at least 10 years of certified service qualify under a higher limit of 700% of the federal poverty level. By graduation the student must finish the 15-unit core curriculum with a 2.50 GPA in those courses and a 2.50 GPA overall, meet the college's regular admission standards, and be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present.
✚
Stacking & Combining
At private colleges like OC, Oklahoma's Promise pays part of tuition at a set per-credit-hour rate, and OC's rate for fall 2027 has not been published. Its bigger value at OC: being an Oklahoma's Promise student is one of the three ways to qualify for Ike's Promise, which covers the rest of tuition after other aid, as long as the student also has a 20 ACT (or 1020 SAT or 66 CLT) and lives on campus.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Families under the income line who get both pieces in on time: the application by December 31 and the tax return by February 1. An application without its documents enrolls no one. In college, students lose it to the yearly income check (any year the parents' AGI tops $100,000 pays nothing and still counts against the five years), to a skipped FAFSA, to the 129-paid-hour cap, or to Satisfactory Academic Progress. Seniors who are one core course short, often a lab science, are the most common late miss.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant
📅 Deadline: No separate application; file the FAFSA early, because returning students are paid first ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradOklahoma resident enrolled full time at an eligible private, nonprofit Oklahoma college, with parents' AGI of $50,000 or less (student and spouse AGI for independent students) and unmet need as set by the college. No Pell requirement. Not available after a first bachelor's degree. The FAFSA must list Oklahoma as the state of residence.
✚
Stacking & Combining
OC is an approved OTEG college: a flat $1,000 a semester for full-time Oklahoma residents whose parents' AGI is $50,000 or less. OC's 2026-27 allocation is $204,000, about 100 full awards, and returning students are paid first, so file the FAFSA early. Stacks with Pell, OTAG, Oklahoma's Promise, and OC aid, though for Ike's Promise students it shrinks the gap Ike fills rather than adding new money.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Low-income Oklahoma students at the 12 participating private colleges. In 2025-26 the University of Tulsa had 303 recipients and Oral Roberts had 256. Returning students have absolute priority, so new students compete for whatever is left after renewals.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant
📅 Deadline: No separate application; each college's FAFSA priority date decides who is considered ✓ Renews
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradOklahoma resident who is eligible for a Pell Grant in the current term and has unmet financial need. Full-time, part-time, and less-than-half-time students can qualify at most colleges. The FAFSA is the application. Each college makes the final award decision.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $2,000 a year at OC for Pell-eligible Oklahoma residents with unmet need. OC's 2026-27 OTAG pot is $99,700, so it runs out, and OC publishes no FAFSA priority date. File as soon as the FAFSA opens.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pell-eligible students who file the FAFSA before the college's priority date. OTAG is no longer first come, first served statewide: when a college runs short, it may favor students with the most unmet need, continuous enrollment, few hours left to graduate, or no other state aid. Colleges spent over 98% of the money in 2025-26.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Trustee's Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$14,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~31 ACT✎ ~1390 SATFirst-time freshmen. Minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA plus 31 ACT, 1390 SAT, or 94 CLT. OC says a higher test score may offset a lower GPA.
💡
Strategic Detail
Top tier of OC's 2027-28 academic merit grid. Awarded from the admission application using a weighted index of ACT, SAT, or CLT and unweighted GPA; OC publishes only the minimums. Students receive one academic merit award. Renewal is checked after the first semester.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 31+ ACT, 1390+ SAT, or 94+ CLT and at least a 3.0 GPA. Because OC weighs GPA and score together, a slightly lower GPA can still land here with a strong score, but a student who applies test-optional can never reach this tier.
Automatic
Founders' Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2.8 GPA, 4 yrs)
$12,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~28 ACT✎ ~1300 SATFirst-time freshmen. Minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA plus 28 ACT, 1300 SAT, or 86 CLT.
💡
Strategic Detail
Second tier of OC's 2027-28 academic merit grid, awarded from the admission application. Students receive one academic merit award. Renewal is checked after the first semester.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in the high 20s on the ACT (28+, or 1300+ SAT, 86+ CLT) with a 3.0 or better. This is the sweet spot for strong students who also qualify for the Honors Program, which asks for the same 28 ACT.
Automatic
President's Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2.8 GPA, 4 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~25 ACT✎ ~1200 SATFirst-time freshmen. Minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA plus 25 ACT, 1200 SAT, or 78 CLT.
💡
Strategic Detail
Third tier of OC's 2027-28 academic merit grid, named for the university's presidents. Students receive one academic merit award. Renewal is checked after the first semester.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Solid B-plus and A students with a 25+ ACT (1200+ SAT, 78+ CLT). OC's middle 50% ACT runs 19 to 26, so this tier rewards students in the top quarter of the class.
Automatic
Dean's Scholarship (with test score)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2.6 GPA, 4 yrs)
$8,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~22 ACT✎ ~1100 SATFirst-time freshmen. Minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA plus 22 ACT, 1100 SAT, or 72 CLT.
💡
Strategic Detail
Fourth tier of OC's 2027-28 academic merit grid. The same award can also be earned with a 3.5 GPA and no score (see the GPA-only row). Students receive one academic merit award.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 3.0 GPA and a 22+ ACT (1100+ SAT, 72+ CLT), which is close to OC's typical admitted student. A student with a 3.0 to 3.49 GPA needs the score to get here; without one, the same student drops to the $6,000 Eagle Award.
Automatic
Dean's Scholarship (3.5 GPA, no test score)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2.6 GPA, 4 yrs)
$8,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPAFirst-time freshmen with a 3.5 unweighted GPA. No test score required.
💡
Strategic Detail
GPA-only path to the Dean's Scholarship on OC's 2027-28 grid. Students receive one academic merit award.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Test-optional students with a 3.5+ unweighted GPA. This is the most a student can earn from OC's grid without sending a score, so a strong student who tests well should still send it, because a 25 ACT would be worth $2,000 more a year.
Automatic
Eagle Award
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2.4 GPA, 4 yrs)
$6,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPAFirst-time freshmen with a 3.0 unweighted GPA. No test score required.
💡
Strategic Detail
Fifth tier of OC's 2027-28 academic merit grid. No test score required. Students receive one academic merit award.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 3.0 to 3.49 GPA who apply without a score, or whose score falls below the Dean's line. It is named for Ike the Eagle, OC's mascot.
Automatic
Maroon & Gray Award
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAFirst-time freshmen with a 2.5 unweighted GPA. No test score required.
💡
Strategic Detail
Base tier of OC's 2027-28 academic merit grid, named for the school colors. No test score required.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted students with a 2.5 to 2.99 GPA. It is the floor of OC's grid, so almost every admitted freshman with at least a 2.5 gets something.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Transfer Student Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA)
$5,000–$10,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA🎓 TransferTransfer students with more than 15 credit hours completed after high school and at least a 2.5 cumulative college GPA.
💡
Strategic Detail
Applied automatically once complete college transcripts arrive. Renewal requires a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Transfers with more than 15 college hours after high school. The amount follows the cumulative GPA from every college attended: $10,000 at a 4.0, $9,000 at 3.75 to 3.99, $8,000 at 3.5 to 3.74, $7,000 at 3.0 to 3.49, and $5,000 at 2.5 to 2.99.
Full TuitionAutomatic
Ike's Promise (Full Tuition)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
need
✘ Not stackable
✎ ~20 ACT✎ ~1020 SATFirst-time college student with an SAI under 720, a full Pell Grant, or Oklahoma's Promise; ACT 20, SAT 1020, or CLT 66; files the FAFSA annually; applies for state grants and OC scholarships; lives on campus.
💡
Strategic Detail
Last-dollar guarantee that covers the balance of tuition after federal grants, state grants, and OC scholarships. Other OC awards do not stack above full tuition. Outside scholarships (not state or federal grants) stack above Ike's Promise up to the full cost of room, board, and fees. Guaranteed for up to eight semesters with a yearly FAFSA, continued SAI, Pell, or Oklahoma's Promise eligibility, full-time enrollment, on-campus housing, and a 2.5 cumulative GPA. OC's page lists no residency rule; confirm at ike@oc.edu. Housing and meals are not covered.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-time students from lower-income families who also test at a 20 ACT (1020 SAT, 66 CLT) and live on campus. The income side is met by any one of three: an SAI under 720, a full Pell Grant, or being an Oklahoma's Promise student. Because it is last-dollar, a student with big merit and full state and federal grants may already have tuition covered and see little or nothing labeled Ike's.
Data last verified Nov 6, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Students get one award from the academic merit grid. The $3,000 Kingdom Way Award (see Hidden Gems) stacks on top. Ike’s Promise is last-dollar, so it fills whatever tuition is left after everything else.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Oklahoma Christian University)
Does my student need a test score for merit money?
Not for the lower tiers. A 2.5 GPA earns the $4,000 Maroon & Gray Award, a 3.0 earns the $6,000 Eagle Award, and a 3.5 earns the $8,000 Dean’s Scholarship, all without a score. The $10,000, $12,000, and $14,000 awards need an ACT, SAT, or CLT.
Is it worth sending a score if my student has a 3.5 GPA?
Usually yes. A 3.5 with no score tops out at $8,000. Add a 25 ACT and it becomes $10,000 a year, which is $8,000 more over four years.
Are these awards guaranteed?
Yes, if your student meets the tier and enrolls full time. They renew after the first semester as long as your student keeps the GPA for that tier: 3.0 for Trustee’s, 2.8 for Founders’ and President’s, 2.6 for Dean’s, 2.4 for Eagle, and 2.0 for Maroon & Gray.
Who qualifies for Ike’s Promise?
First-time students whose family meets one of three tests: an SAI under 720, a full Pell Grant, or being an Oklahoma’s Promise student. They also need a 20 ACT (1020 SAT, 66 CLT) and must live on campus. There’s no separate application; it shows up on the award letter. It renews for eight semesters with a 2.5 GPA.
Can out-of-state students get Ike’s Promise?
OC’s Ike’s Promise page doesn’t list a residency rule, and two of the three ways in (SAI and Pell) work in any state. Email ike@oc.edu to confirm before you count on it.
What do transfer students get?
Transfers with more than 15 college hours get $5,000 to $10,000 a year, based on college GPA: $10,000 at a 4.0, $9,000 at 3.75 and up, $8,000 at 3.5 and up, $7,000 at 3.0 and up, and $5,000 at 2.5 and up.
OC doesn’t run a big essay-and-interview competition for full rides. Most of OC’s money is automatic: the merit grid, Ike’s Promise, and the church guarantees. The two awards here are the exceptions. One is a near full ride for National Merit Finalists, and the other is a small leadership award with real perks.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at OC?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
OC Parent Translation
Academic Merit Grid
N/A
Your student gets one award from the grid, the highest tier they reach.
Kingdom Way Award
Yes
OC calls it stackable. It’s $3,000 a year on top of merit for students active in any Christian church.
Heritage Guarantee / Sister School
It’s a total
Both promise 50% off tuition including OC aid. Think of them as a floor your package can’t drop below.
Ike’s Promise
Last-dollar
It fills whatever tuition is left. Outside scholarships (like a church gift) can stack above it to help with housing, meals, and fees.
Athletic Scholarships
Only with academic and transfer awards
Most other OC scholarships may not combine with athletic money. Ask the coach for the full package in writing.
State grants (OTEG, OTAG, Pell)
Yes
They stack, but for Ike’s Promise students they shrink the gap Ike fills rather than adding new money.
Big picture: at OC, the biggest dollars come from being in the right bucket (strong test score, low income, church of Christ family, or sister-school parent), not from winning a contest. If your student is a National Merit Finalist, OC is one of the few Oklahoma privates where that alone covers nearly everything.
Full RideApp Requirednational merit
National Merit Finalist Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Ride
merit
✘ Not stackable
⚠ National Merit Finalists only
National Merit Finalist who designates OC as first-choice college.
📄
How to Apply
Reach Finalist standing through the National Merit program and name Oklahoma Christian University as the first-choice college with National Merit by its spring deadline.
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers full tuition, mandatory fees, and the standard room and meal plan for up to 17 credit hours a semester. Renewable for four consecutive years with a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Awarded in the spring of senior year as determined by National Merit.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
National Merit Finalists who list OC as their first choice with National Merit. The Honors Program reports eight National Merit Finalists, so this is a small group, but for those students it is close to a free ride.
App Required
President's Leadership Class
📅 Deadline: 02-03 Non-Renewable
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Incoming freshmen selected for the President's Leadership Class.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with OC's academic merit award.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the President's Leadership Class application at admissions.oc.edu/register/PLC by February 3.
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,000 award for a small group of selected students in OC's leadership development program. OC does not publish renewal terms for the award.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming freshmen with a real leadership track record (student council, team captain, church or service leadership) who apply by February 3. OC picks a small group each year, and the program also asks members to volunteer at major campus events.
Data last verified Nov 6, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
What does OC’s National Merit package cover?
Full tuition, required fees, and the standard room and meal plan for up to 17 hours a semester. It renews for four years with a 3.0 GPA. Your student has to be a National Merit Finalist and name OC as their first choice with National Merit.
Is a National Merit Semifinalist enough?
No. The package is for Finalists. Semifinalists who don’t advance still get OC’s merit grid based on their score, which at that level means the $14,000 Trustee’s award.
What is the President’s Leadership Class?
A small leadership program for incoming freshmen with a $1,000 award. Members also volunteer at big campus events. The application is due February 3.
Does OC have a full-tuition essay competition like some other schools?
Not one that’s open to everyone. OC’s full-tuition paths are Ike’s Promise (need-based and automatic) and the National Merit package.
What should my student prepare for the leadership application?
A clear list of leadership roles and what they actually did in each. Our Brag Sheet Builder helps organize it, and the Essay Toolkit helps with short answers.
🧠 Parent Strategy: Ask the Church Before You Ask OC
A lot of OC’s extra money starts with your family’s church. If your church gives your student even a small scholarship, OC will match it up to $1,000 a year. For Ike’s Promise students, that church money also stacks on top of free tuition to help with housing.
Ask your church about a college scholarship in the spring of senior year.
Turn in OC’s Church Match form by August 1.
If you’re active in a church of Christ, ask your admissions counselor about the Heritage Guarantee by name.
Ask the department for your student’s major about its endowed scholarships.
Parent translation: the church-related awards aren’t automatic. Families who don’t ask usually don’t get them.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards depend on who your student is (church, family job, hometown, talent) more than on test scores. Some stack on top of merit, and a couple work as guarantees that top up your package.
Automaticreligious affiliation
Church of Christ Heritage Guarantee (50% Tuition)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ church of Christ members only
First-time college students active in a church of Christ.
💡
Strategic Detail
Guarantees a 50% tuition discount through multiple OC scholarships for up to eight traditional undergraduate semesters. It is a package total, not an add-on to other OC aid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-time students who are active in a church of Christ. It is a guaranteed floor of 50% off tuition built from OC's own scholarships, so a student whose merit already reaches that level will not see extra money from it.
Automaticreligious affiliation
Kingdom Way Award
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
First-time freshmen and transfer students active in a Christian church.
✚
Stacking & Combining
OC calls this award stackable, so it sits on top of the academic merit grid.
💡
Strategic Detail
$3,000 a year, renewable for up to eight traditional undergraduate semesters ($12,000 total).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Any first-time freshman or transfer who is active in a Christian church, not only churches of Christ. Worth $12,000 over eight semesters.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyemployer affiliation
Sister School Discount (50% Tuition)
📅 Deadline: 08-01 ✓ Renews (2 GPA)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Children of sister-school employees only
🎓 All UndergradParent works full time at a listed sister university; student 23 or under, lives on campus, keeps a 2.0 GPA.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the OC application and the Sister School Discount Form by August 1, and file the FAFSA.
💡
Strategic Detail
Guarantees 50% off tuition, including all OC aid. Requires FAFSA, a 2.0 cumulative GPA, age 23 or under, and living on campus.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of full-time employees at Abilene Christian, Lipscomb, Faulkner, Freed-Hardeman, Harding, Lubbock Christian, or Pepperdine. The 50% includes all OC aid, so it is a total, not extra money on top.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlyministry family
Child of Minister Discount
📅 Deadline: Varies Non-Renewable
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Children of full-time ministers only
🎓 All UndergradChild of a full-time church minister or pastor, under age 23.
💡
Strategic Detail
Tuition discount; amount not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children under 23 of a full-time church minister or pastor. OC does not publish the discount amount, so ask the admissions counselor how it combines with merit.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Church Match Scholarship
📅 Deadline: 08-01 ✓ Renews
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradStudent receives a scholarship from their church.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with OC merit and the church's own scholarship; for Ike's Promise students, the church gift counts as outside money that stacks above Ike's.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Church Match application form by August 1 with the church's scholarship details.
💡
Strategic Detail
OC matches a scholarship from the student's church family, up to $1,000 per academic year. Deadline August 1.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students whose home church gives them a scholarship. OC matches it up to $1,000 a year, so a $1,000 church gift becomes $2,000. Families who never ask the church never get the match.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
OC Grant (Need-Based)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradFAFSA filers with demonstrated need and a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other awards, but the grant shrinks as other aid is added.
💡
Strategic Detail
University-funded need-based grant. Requires FAFSA and a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Amount not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Families with financial need on the FAFSA. It is OC's gap filler, so it tends to be largest for students whose merit is smaller.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlymajor specific
Endowed Scholarships by Area of Study
📅 Deadline: Varies Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradVaries by fund and major.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Generally adds to merit; check each award's terms.
📄
How to Apply
Each area runs its own process: Bible and Education use forms, Business offers are one-time and can be reapplied for, and Natural Sciences and Engineering and Computer Science go through the student's advisor.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bundled row for department and donor-endowed scholarships. The Center for Biblical Studies separately advertises awards of up to $10,000 for new Bible students.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who ask their department. OC lists endowed funds for Bible, Business, Natural Sciences, Engineering and Computer Science, History and Political Science, Language and Literature, Education, Nursing, and Music, with no amounts on the main page.
App Requiredgeographic
Regional and Alumni Chapter Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Specific home regions only
Residents of the Pacific Northwest, the Sacramento area (or Cordova Church of Christ members), or North Texas.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Generally adds to merit.
📄
How to Apply
Northwest Endowment: contact your admissions counselor and file the FAFSA. Astafan: Wufoo form with a 500-word career goals essay. North Texas Chapter: two recommendation letters and a brief autobiography.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Bundled row for three geography-based awards. No amounts published. Astafan also asks for a progress report after the first year and attendance at a fall scholarship luncheon.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students from three specific places: the Pacific Northwest (Northwest Endowment Fund), the Sacramento area or Cordova Church of Christ (Patrick Astafan Memorial Scholarship), and North Texas (OC Alumni North Texas Chapter). Few families know these exist, so the applicant pools are small.
App Requiredtalent audition
Music Scholarship (Audition)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
First-time students with exceptional musical ability; audition required.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Generally stacks with academic merit.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to OC, then call the Department of Music at 405.425.5530 for audition requirements.
💡
Strategic Detail
Amount varies by ability and need. Renewable for up to eight semesters with music participation.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-time students with strong musical ability who audition, majors and non-majors alike. Keeping it means staying in a music ensemble and holding a 2.5 GPA.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyathletics
Athletic Scholarships (NCAA Division II and Club)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2 GPA)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Recruited athletes only
🏫 1.7+ GPA🎓 All UndergradRecruited student-athletes.
📄
How to Apply
Contact the OC athletic department at 405.425.5350 or the coach directly.
💡
Strategic Detail
Amount varies by ability and need. Requires a 1.7 GPA for freshmen, 2.0 for other undergraduates, and 12+ hours a semester. Institutional scholarships may not stack with athletic awards, except traditional academic and transfer scholarships.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Recruited NCAA Division II and club-sport athletes. Watch the stacking rule: most OC scholarships may not combine with athletic money, though the academic merit and transfer awards can.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlyrotc
ROTC Room & Board Discount
📅 Deadline: Varies Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ ROTC scholarship winners only
🎓 All UndergradOC students with an ROTC Academic Scholarship.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Sits on top of the ROTC scholarship, which covers tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Amount varies as a percentage of the ROTC academic scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who win an ROTC academic scholarship. OC adds a room and board discount sized to how much of tuition the ROTC award covers.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlyinternational
International Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$8,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
⚠ International students only
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 All UndergradNon-U.S. citizens ineligible for federal aid or OC academic scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
$8,000 per academic year for up to eight semesters. Requires full-time enrollment in a traditional program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Non-U.S. citizens who cannot receive federal aid or OC's academic merit grid. It replaces the grid for these students rather than adding to it.
Data last verified Nov 6, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
We’re active in a church of Christ. What does the Heritage Guarantee mean for us?
OC promises your student at least 50% off tuition (about $14,000 a year at 2026-27 rates) for up to eight semesters, built from OC’s scholarships. If your student’s merit award is $6,000, OC fills the gap up to that 50%. If merit is already $14,000, the guarantee doesn’t add more.
Do we have to be church of Christ for the Kingdom Way Award?
No. It’s for students active in any Christian church. It’s $3,000 a year, stacks on top of merit, and is worth $12,000 over four years. OC may ask for your minister’s contact information.
My spouse works at Harding (or ACU, Lipscomb, Pepperdine). Is there a discount?
Yes. The Sister School Discount guarantees 50% off tuition, including all OC aid, for children of full-time employees at seven sister schools. Your student has to be 23 or under, live on campus, file the FAFSA, and keep a 2.0 GPA. The form is due August 1.
We live in the Pacific Northwest (or Sacramento, or North Texas). Is there anything for us?
Yes. OC has small regional awards for all three areas. Few families know about them, so ask your admissions counselor.
Can athletes keep their academic scholarship?
Yes. Academic merit and transfer awards can combine with athletic money, but most other OC scholarships can’t. Get the full combined offer in writing.
OC has an Honors Program, not a separate Honors College. It replaces OC’s general core with its own Honors courses, and freshmen start with First Year Adventure, which uses places like the OKC Philharmonic and Philbrook Museum of Art as course material. Admission is separate from regular admission, and unlike OC itself, the Honors Program needs a test score.
Typical admit: 3.5+ GPA and a 28 ACT, 1310 SAT, or 87 CLT (the Honors average ACT is 30)
What to submit: A 500+ word analytical or research paper from a high school class, plus an interview with the Honors director
When: OC recommends applying by December 31; a waitlist usually starts in January
Honors Program Scholarships & Stipends
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyhonors
Honors Study Abroad Stipend
📅 Deadline: Varies Non-Renewable
$3,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ Honors Program students only
🎓 All UndergradAdmitted Honors Program students.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Extra money on top of merit for an Honors student's study abroad term.
💡
Strategic Detail
Honors Program benefit listed as up to $3,000 for study abroad.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors Program students who study abroad. OC lists it as up to $3,000, so the actual figure depends on the program and the year.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyhonors
McBride Humanities Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Honors Program students only
🎓 All UndergradHonors Program students; separate application.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to merit; it is extra money tied to the Honors University Fellows cohort.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the McBride Humanities Scholarship form linked from the Honors Program page.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded through the Honors Program with additional activities and mentorship connected to the University Fellows cohort. No amount published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students who love the humanities (literature, history, writing), regardless of major. Past winners include English writing majors. Funds come from the endowed McBride Center for Public Humanities, and OC says amounts vary year to year.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyhonorsmajor specific
OG&E STEM Honors Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Honors STEM students only
🎓 All UndergradHonors Program students in STEM majors; separate application.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to merit; it is extra money tied to the Honors University Fellows cohort.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the OG&E STEM Honors Scholarship form linked from the Honors Program page.
💡
Strategic Detail
Honors Program STEM award with a separate application form. No amount published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students in engineering, computer science, and the sciences. It is funded by an endowment from Oklahoma Gas and Electric to the Honors Program. This is not the same as OG&E's separate Positive Energy Scholarship for high school seniors.
Data last verified Nov 6, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
*OC doesn’t publish amounts for the McBride and OG&E awards, and the McBride Center says amounts change from year to year.*
Money Note: Honors doesn’t come with its own big scholarship. A student with a 28 ACT already qualifies for the $12,000 Founders’ Scholarship from the merit grid. Honors adds smaller extras on top: up to $3,000 for study abroad, plus two named awards with their own applications.
Beyond Honors: Help With Big Applications
National Scholarships & Fellowships: OC’s committee helps current students apply for Fulbright, Goldwater, Udall, and Rhodes, with a September nomination deadline.
Grad school track record: OC says every Honors grad who applied to law school since 2012 was accepted.
Honors House: A living-learning residence where Honors students can live together.
Honors Program FAQs (Oklahoma Christian University)
Can my student join Honors without a test score?
No. OC’s test-optional policy covers regular admission only. The Honors Program still needs an ACT, SAT, or CLT.
Is Honors admission automatic for high scorers?
No. Your student needs the writing sample and an interview with the Honors director. A campus visit is strongly encouraged.
Do Honors students get more scholarship money?
Some extras, not a big new award. The main money still comes from the merit grid. Honors adds a study-abroad stipend of up to $3,000 and the chance to apply for the McBride Humanities and OG&E STEM Honors scholarships.
Is Honors only for humanities students?
No. Engineering, nursing, and science students join too, and the OG&E STEM Honors Scholarship is aimed at them.
Oklahoma Christian is small, but it has more outside-accredited programs than you’d expect for its size. Engineering, nursing, interior architecture, medical lab science, music, business, and teaching are all accredited by their own national boards. For families, that means the degree checks the boxes employers and licensing boards look for.
Nationally Known Program: Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Computer): All three are ABET-accredited, which is the stamp that lets graduates sit for the professional engineering license. OC says it’s one of only five schools in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities with three ABET programs. Mechanical engineering grads are among OC’s top earners.
Gaming and Animation: OC’s game design and animation program has been ranked in the Princeton Review’s top 50 and is the top-ranked program of its kind in Oklahoma. Students can earn it as a BFA, a BS, or inside the computer science degree.
Nursing: A CCNE-accredited BSN that’s one of OC’s most popular majors, with strong starting pay for grads.
Computer Science: Tracks in AI, cybersecurity, business, and gaming, with a path into OC’s master’s program.
Interior Architecture and Design: A CIDA-accredited BFA, which is less common at small schools.
Medical Laboratory Science: A NAACLS-accredited program that leads straight into hospital lab careers.
Business, Bible and Ministry, Music, and Education: Business is ACBSP-accredited, music is NASM-accredited, and teacher prep is CAEP-accredited. Bible and Ministry also has its own scholarships through the College of Bible.
🔗 Official Oklahoma Christian University Links
Use Oklahoma Christian’s official pages below to check admissions details, scholarship rules, costs, and Honors requirements. Always trust these pages for final deadlines and award terms.
Oklahoma Christian is a school where the money mostly comes to you, as long as you send in the right pieces. Almost everyone gets in, and every admitted student with a 2.5 GPA gets merit money. From there, a test score can move your student from $8,000 a year to $14,000. Lower-income students who test at a 20 can get tuition covered completely through Ike’s Promise, and church of Christ families have a 50% tuition floor.
The thing to plan around is everything tuition doesn’t cover. Even with Ike’s Promise, housing, meals, and fees run about $11,000 a year, and most freshmen live on campus. So file the FAFSA early, send a score, and ask your church about a scholarship OC can match. If your student is drawn to engineering, nursing, or game design, OC offers accredited programs at a price that can end up well below the $39,000 sticker.
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Written by Leo Dimilo
I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me. More about Leo →
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