Founded in 1890 as the Territorial Normal School to train public educators, the University of Central Oklahoma is the third-largest public university by enrollment in Oklahoma. Spanning a modern 210-acre campus in the suburban community of Edmond, UCO connects forensic science, business analytics, contemporary music performance, and teacher education. You can examine its founding charter, normal school heritage, and suburban expansion through the University of Central Oklahoma Wikipedia historical entry.
When you attend UCO, you enter a dynamic metropolitan university focused on transformative learning, community engagement, and practical career readiness. Living in Edmond places you inside one of Oklahoma's safest suburban cities, just 12 miles north of downtown Oklahoma City.
Premier Academic Programs
UCO hosts six specialized colleges delivering accredited undergraduate and graduate instruction:
- W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute: Nationally renowned leader in digital forensics, DNA analysis, arson investigation, and forensic molecular biology.
- College of Business: AACSB-accredited business school famous for corporate accounting, finance, marketing analytics, and human resource management. Explore degree options on the UCO College of Business portal.
- Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM@UCO): Located in downtown Oklahoma City, training performers in commercial music production and audio engineering.
- College of Mathematics and Science: Delivers instruction in biomedical engineering, computer science, actuarial science, and nursing.
- College of Education and Professional Studies: Historic teacher preparation school training public educators, counselors, and kinesiology experts.
"UCO: Transformative Learning, serving as the guiding institutional declaration of the University of Central Oklahoma."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily student experience centers on Broncho Lake, Old North historic building, and the Nigh University Center. School spirit revolves around Buddy the Broncho, the energetic mascot representing UCO Bronchos athletic teams in NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association sports. You can read about spirit traditions and mascot history on the official UCO Bronchos Athletics portal. Cheering inside Wantland Stadium for football games, attending concerts at Mitchell Hall Theatre, and joining over 200 student clubs creates an engaging campus culture.
Research Infrastructure and Forensic Science
UCO operates an active applied research enterprise highlighted by world-class forensic and biomedical research laboratories:
- W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Research Complex: State-of-the-art facility accredited in all discipline areas of forensic science education.
- Biomedical Engineering Research Laboratory: Advanced lab facility investigating bio-compatible materials, medical devices, and tissue engineering. Learn more via UCO Research Operations.
- Center for Research and Learning: Coordinates undergraduate research grants, faculty mentorship, and annual student symposiums.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of Fortune 500 executives, NASA directors, actors, and public servants, including:
- Randall L. Stephenson: Former Chairman and CEO of AT&T Inc. who earned his accounting degree at UCO.
- Donna Shirley: NASA aerospace engineer and former manager of the Mars Exploration Program who studied at UCO.
- Jim Beaver: Actor and playwright best known for Supernatural and Deadwood who earned his degree at UCO.
- Milena Govich: Television actress and director best known for Law & Order who graduated from UCO.
UCO provides generous merit scholarship coverage and need-based financial assistance for domestic and international applicants. Review full entry requirements on the official UCO Admissions portal.