OSU-OKC came into being in 1961 as educators and civic leaders realized the need for technical programs in Oklahoma’s largest city. Beginning on the campus of Oklahoma City University, the school was originally named Oklahoma State University Technical Institute – Oklahoma City, colloquially called ‘OSU Tech.’ In 1962 the OSU Technical Institute of Industrial Arts and Technology and Engineering was relocated to Oklahoma City.

In 1969, police science was started in parthership with Oklahoma City and, fire protection was relocated from the Stillwater campus. Nursing was added in 1971 in partnership with Mercy Health bringing general education curriculum, all of which still provide a strong presence in the university’s offerings. The first structure opened on the current campus at 10th and Portland in 1968. Since this time the university has continued expand to meet Oklahoma’s workforce needs. 

In 1990, the university was renamed to reflect the wide scope of educational offerings to Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma City, or OSU-OKC. Starting with an enrollment of 92 students in 1961, in 2021 OSU-OKC serves thousands of students each semester with microcredentials, certificate, associate and bachelors degree programs.