I just talked to Lori in the OU National Scholars office. Bad news. The in-state National Merit package has dropped from $68,200 to $64,000. We went line by line down the Scholarship Package pdf, comparing 2017 to 2018.
In-State Student changes:
The Technology and Textbook Allowance: down to $1500 from $2000.
The Research and Study Abroad Stipend: down to $1500 from $2000.
…and the biggest hit: the first-year Housing Scholarship: down to ZERO from $4,200.
Any expectation on OOS changes?
I would assume it should impact OOS also. These 3 items are generic for both OOS and IS. Bummer. Still I am happy with what OU gives when I see what my D’s other friends pay UG education.
We just received a letter from the National Scholars office detailing the offer. For us its a huge cut. They waive out of state tuition rate, but then only waive $2,000 per year for tuition. The $4,200 for freshmen housing is gone. and in addition they knock off $500 apiece for study abroad and tech/textbook allowance. From what we were able to piece together that comes to about $12,000 a year out of pocket for OOS. My D loves OU, but that’s a lot to pay when other schools are offering full rides. She wants to go into Nursing and UT Arlington, UT Tyler and Texas Tech all offer full rides. Baylor actually offers a better package than OU and I think they have a better nursing school. I understand that a lot of this is due to budget cuts but I think our family is probably going to look elsewhere.
@HeliMom74, are they still honoring the old financial aid packages?
i would think so but i would also ask. I’m going to call tomorrow and ask for clarification on the 2018 offers
I think not. The way I assume it works is, OU announces every year the aid package. That is applicable for any one, whether new or current students for that year.
Searched the site to find the 2018-19 aid package (PDF) file but could not locate.
My son is an entering freshman this fall (2017). I assume that he’ll still get the 5-year package that he was offered and will not be affected by these cuts.
Is that correct?
My guess is that OU will honor the packages current students were accepted on. Each year there is a statement of the package for the entering freshman class. It has changed going forward for freshmen students starting in fall 2018, but I don’t think it will change for those already attending on an earlier package. We’ll see what happens.
I spoke with a rep from the Nat Scholars office this morning. For OOS the estimates are $16K for freshmen year, $13K for soph & Jr. yr and $10k for senior year
@Phlipper does that include all the fees OU tacks on?
Yes, ugh, just don’t see how we afford that with others willing to give free ride
Us too…D loves everything about OU and it was manageable with the freshman housing and the extra money but I can’t justify her going into debt when she can go to Miami or FSU paid 100% with merit, benaquisto, bright futures etc…it will be her decision in the end but I will lay everything out for her.
FYI - I just called the NM office and they told me that you get to keep the package that you go in with, so all new 2017 Freshmen will keep the current package and will not be affected by the new 2018 package. I got a little nervous after reading those posts 
Just called OU National Scholar Office to understand how the package works and here is the confirmation.
- Whatever the package given to student at the freshman year holds good even if there is a change in the future like 2018-19 cycle. In other words, even if the student has not availed, let us say, the 'research and study abroad stipend' which is $2k, that will be given even if the student goes abroad in 2019-20 year. But a student who joined in 2018-19 cycle may get only $1.5k if that is what OU going to provide as package in 2018-19.
@Phlipper Assume the amounts you said in the post may be COA, which may include variety of things like airfare and books and pocket money etc.
To give an idea to future students / parents, here is the money spent for the freshman year for my D.
$7344.25 paid to OU for 44 credits and stayed in Dorm for 1 full year with full meal plan. This does not include any air fare, books purchase or any incidental expense etc. Our projection for total UG education is going to be $25k max (my D plans to complete UG in 3 years), which we would have spent in 1 year itself, if she has gone to UC for IS fees.
The only difference I see for future students from 2018 is $5200 net impact. ($4200 1 time aid during first year if stayed in dorm + $500 reduction for Book allowance + $500 for Research and study abroad).
I wish the OU Board of Regents (who cut the NM packages) would read your comments. These cuts amount to families and students looking elsewhere for their bright kids.
Yep, I can confirm families do look elsewhere as a result of this …
This is not correct for OOS though. The tuition scholarship is effectively reduced for OOS students from 94,500 to 87,000 as well.
The net impact is more like 13,000 (and all of that depends on how many years you take).
Specifically, by way of example, it makes the Alabama offers that much more appealing. More important, in my opinion, schools like Texas A & M that never really advertised a full scholarship for National Scholars but had attractive packages are now at least, if not more, compelling than OU.
Agree, every one should look for what ever is the best option for their situation and select that college.
Can you help us understand what it means tuition reduced from 94500 to 87000. Out of the 6 components of OU NMS package, only this component is not a fixed amount. It is only estimate but currently is says 100% tuition waiver.
So did OU inform that it is not going to provide 100% tuition or what exactly they have communicated to know that it is going to be 87000 only? Is there any change in the details for this component?
• Waives 100% of tuition
• May be used for five years (fall, spring and summer)
• Must maintain a 2.8 cumulative GPA and be enrolled full-time
• Can be used toward any graduate/professional program at OU if funds remain after completion of undergraduate degree
(including medical school and law school)
Terrible news for us. Ugh. Still cheaper than in state flagship though.