Oklahoma Christian University students are faced with higher prices during the 2025-2026 academic year as the estimated cost of attendance has increased by 3.2%: from $36,300 to $37,500.
According to Oklahoma Christian’s website, the cost of full-time tuition has risen by $1,000 to $26,800, and the primary residence hall meal plan has risen by $180 to $4,700.
Additionally, students are met with some new or increased charges including a $40 rental fee to use loft kits in their dorm room and a doubled fee of $20 for a replacement identification card.
The total estimated cost has risen steadily over the past few years, from $34,580 in 2023-2024 to a new high of $37,500 during the current academic year.
University officials attribute the rising costs to external economic factors and specific departmental needs. Amy Schlup, director of Student Financial Services, said the meal plan increase is a direct result of rising food prices in the US:
“Meal plans have had some increases due to food costs. The US has seen a large increase since 2020,” Schlup said
She noted that some costs have remained stable:
“The cost for housing (double occupancy) did not increase in 2025-26. While housing did increase in 24-25, that was the first increase since 2018-19.”
Residence life introduced the new loft kit fee to address issues with damage to Oklahoma Christian property:
“Last year, we had a significant number of loft kits returned damaged or broken, and we didn’t have the ability to repair or replace them,” Amber McFerran, director of Residence Life said. “Because of that, our inventory for this fall dropped from around 100 kits to just 65. This charge is intended to reduce damage and help us maintain a sustainable supply moving forward.”
For many students, the rising costs make scholarships more valuable than ever.
“I would not be able to come here without my scholarships,” Ian Keller, a junior Biblical Studies and Communications major said. “Being able to get Bible scholarships really affects my ability to not have loans at college.”
While Keller said some inflation is inevitable, he questioned if the value of his experience is keeping pace with the price:
“Between the caf food being more expensive and not giving me as much value: first year’s cafe food was great, last year’s caf food, not so much,” Keller said. “The quality is definitely decreasing in some areas.”
One student raised concerns about transparency and communication regarding the new charges. Connor Wiggs, a sophomore Computer Science major, pointed out a discrepancy with the fee for a replacement identification card:
“The student handbook cost for replacing your ID is $10 or $15, but that is in fact not what they are charging. I feel like they need to either go with what’s in the handbook or update it,” said Wiggs.
As of September 8, 2025, the official 2025-2026 Student Handbook asserts the price cited by Wiggs:
“There is no charge for replacement ID cards that become defective or fail to work. Lost cards can be replaced at a cost of $10.00.”
Records Coordinator Kayla Chenault confirmed the information in the handbook is not accurate, saying, “the fee to replace a lost ID card is $20.” She said she was working on correcting the error.
Wiggs also suggested an alternative to the new lofting fee:
“I feel like the lofting kits should be a security deposit, not a flat payment. If I don’t damage your property, I want my $40 back,” Wiggs said.
Despite the financial pressures, scholarships remain a powerful tool for making an Oklahoma Christian education accessible.
“I get one major academic scholarship which greatly helps my ability to attend school here,” Truett Murphy, a sophomore Marketing Management major said. “Without that scholarship, I don’t know if I would be able to come to school here at all.”
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