University of Tulsa

The University of Tulsa is a private research university located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Founded in 1894 as Henry Kendall College, it later became the University of Tulsa after relocating from Muskogee to Tulsa in the early twentieth century. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across disciplines including engineering, business, law, arts and sciences, and health sciences. It is particularly known for its programs in petroleum engineering, cybersecurity, and Native American law and history. With a residential campus and a relatively small student body, it attracts students seeking a close-knit academic environment combined with research opportunities and professional preparation.

The University of Tulsa traces its origins to 1894, when Henry Kendall College was established in Muskogee in Indian Territory by Presbyterian leaders. The first president, William A. Caldwell, led the early institution before it expanded under subsequent leadership. In 1907, just before Oklahoma achieved statehood, the college relocated to Tulsa after a successful civic campaign to bring higher education to the growing city. The institution adopted the name University of Tulsa in 1920 as it broadened its academic scope. During the twentieth century, the University of Tulsa added programs in petroleum engineering, business, and law, and survived significant financial challenges during the Great Depression. Under President Clarence I. Pontius beginning in the 1930s, the university stabilized financially and expanded academically. Over time, the University of Tulsa developed into a private research university serving students from across the United States and abroad.