OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener, held an interim study this week examining how Oklahoma colleges and universities can maintain a competitive edge against institutions from outside the state. The study was held before the House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee.

West said the idea came after a constituent called whose daughter wanted to attend Carl Albert State College in Poteau, in West's House district.

"A college across the state line offered them too good of a deal to turn down," West said. "It had nothing to do with academics. It had everything to do with what parents could get moneywise for their kids."

West said he called Carl Albert's president to talk about this, and that conversation led to the study.

"Oklahoma is different. It has Kansas, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas and Missouri as neighbors," West said. "We have colleges from the Panhandle to Southeast Oklahoma to the Northeast and the South that are dealing with different states trying to recruit our kids. These out-of-state colleges can outcompete us unless we change our current regulations."

West invited various college presidents to discuss their efforts in trying to keep Oklahoma youth going to Oklahoma higher education institutions.

Allison Garrett, chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, detailed how many Oklahoma students are leaving the state and where they are going. She showed that of the 45,130 students graduating in 2022 from Oklahoma high schools:

• 26,270, or 58.2%, were not enrolled in college during the Fall 2022 semester;
• 15,150, or 33.6%, attended a public higher education institution in Oklahoma;
• 1,099 or 2.4% attended a private higher education institution in Oklahoma; and
• 2,611 or 5.8% attended an out-of-state higher education institution.

Of those leaving Oklahoma:

• 26% go to Kansas
• 14.6% go to Arkansas
• 11.2% go to Texas
• 8.7% go to Missouri
• 3.3% go to Colorado

Garrett gave examples of tuition discounting for Oklahoma students in these adjoining states. These include the University of Arkansas, which pays up to 90% of the difference between resident and non-resident tuition based on GPA. Wichita State University provides in-state tuition to students in 19 Oklahoma counties and discounted rates for students from all additional Oklahoma counties. Others states have discounted rates as well.

Study participants heard from college presidents from Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Carl Albert on other states' initiatives to recruit Oklahoma students and how the state must work to maintain a competitive edge.

The study wrapped with a discussion of legislative and policy strategies that Oklahoma might pursue. Suggestions included allowing greater flexibility to waive tuition for both in-state and out-of-state students, increasing operational funding to limit tuition and fee increases, increasing marketing funding, and expanding the Oklahoma Opportunity Scholarship tax credit to Oklahoma higher education institutions.

West said the study was very educational.

"What has impressed me is the enthusiasm these college presidents have," he said. "It's evident they love their institutions and the students they serve. I see that they are doing everything they can to increase enrollment and help Oklahoma students stay here and thrive."