2022 Accolades

Accolades are sorted by most recent.

Billboard Magazine names OSU's Greenwood School of Music as a top music business school
November, 2022 - Billboard Magazine
Billboard magazine recently named OSU’s Greenwood School of Music as a top music business school, listing it among the likes of Abbey Road Institute and the Los Angeles College of Music as being among the best in the nation. OSU’s Bachelor of Science in music industry program was specifically highlighted for housing its own student-run music company, which connects students to professionals in the industry.

OKC ranked one of the best capital cities
November, 2022 - WalletHub
In their most recent report, WalletHub ranked Oklahoma City No. 10 as the best state capital to live in. In order to identify the best state capitals to live in, WalletHub compared all 50 cities across affordability, economic well-being, quality of education, health and quality of life.

OKC's First American Museum wins national travel award
October, 2022 - The Society of American Travel Writers
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) recently awarded OKC’s First Americans Museum (FAM) with the 2022 Phoenix Award for outstanding contribution to a quality travel experience through conservation, preservation, beautification or environmental efforts.

GreatSchools.org recognized Classen High School of Advanced Studies with the 2022 College Success Award
October, 2022 - GreatSchools.org
The objective of the College Success Award is to recognize and celebrate public high schools that are successfully preparing students to enroll and succeed in college. Award-winners are determined by a methodology that evaluates school-level data on college preparation, college enrollment, and college performance.

Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission program named most innovative
October, 2022 - NASAO
The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission was named the Most Innovative State Program at the National Aviation Conference for its Web-based Airport Infrastructure Management System. This year, the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) recognized the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission for its Aerospace and Aviation Education Program, which has impacted thousands of students with varying levels of awareness, exposure, and certification to better prepare them for a career in the aviation and aerospace industry in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma universities earn diversity honors
September, 2022 - Insight Into Diversity
Insight Into Diversity magazine has included Oklahoma State University and The University of Oklahoma on its list of 2022 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award recipients. In addition to being honored as a 2022 HEED Award recipient, Insight Into Diversity magazine recognized OSU as a Diversity Champion for the sixth straight year.

Oklahoma City makes list of "Best Taco Cities" in U.S.
September, 2022 - Clever
Clever ranked the ‘Best Taco Cities’ across the United States by looking at the number of taco restaurants per 100,000 residents, the number of taco trucks, affordability and search data related to tacos. To determine the best cities for taco lovers, Clever analyzed data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Roaming Hunger, Yelp, and Numbeo. Oklahoma City made the list as the 4th Best Taco City in the country.

Princeton Review ranks five OKC-area schools among top colleges
September, 2022 - Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has named Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma State University and The University of Oklahoma among its “2023 Best Colleges: Region by Region.” The Princeton Review annually identifies colleges and universities across the nation it deems exceptional based on results of an 85-question survey that asks students to rate professors, administrators, school services, and other aspects of life at colleges.

Myriad Gardens' Pumpkinville wins first place for best pumpkin patch in the U.S.
September, 2022 - USA Today
Myriad Gardens Fall Festival Pumpkinville won first place in the Top Pumpkin Patch in the United States by the 10 Best USA Today Poll. Pumpkinville was voted No. 1 out of 20 contenders nationwide.

Oklahoma has some of the best home values in the U.S.
September, 2022 - The Ascent
In the most recent analysis from The Ascent, Oklahoma ranked in the top 5 states for home price value. The Ascent analyzed that the typical single-family home value in 2022 for Oklahoma was $181,574.

OKC's Ma Der Lao Kitchen named one of 50 best new restaurants in the U.S.
September, 2022 - Bon Appetit Magazine
Bon Appetit Magazine went around the county to search for the 50 best new restaurants in the United States. Ma Der Lao Kitchen was one of a handful of restaurants that made the list in the Midwest, and it was the only restaurant from Oklahoma.

Oklahoma ranked as one of the most underrated destinations
September, 2022 - CNN Travel
CNN Travel ranked the top 22 underrated travel destinations in the United States that remain refreshingly underrated despite the surge in travel this year. CNN stated that Oklahoma’s high rating is greatly attributed to its surprising food scene, the OKC RIVERSPORT and Oklahoma's long stretch of Historic Route 66.

Oklahoma City is one the best cities to live in
August, 2022 - Bankrate
In its most recent analysis, Bankrate ranked Oklahoma City No. 4 for the best city to live in 2022. To identify the best places to live, Bankrate examined the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. through the lens of an essential question: What makes a place livable and lovable? Applying a 10-point scale, they considered several factors, including: affordability, overall well-being, diversity, job market, and migration patterns.

Oklahoma ranks No. 5 for best bridge conditions
August, 2022 - Federal Highway Administration
In the most recent report, Oklahoma has earned a No. 5 national ranking for the overall condition of its bridges by the Federal Highway Administration. Bridge reconstruction projects and repairs made in 2021 helped move Oklahoma up to No. 5 in the nation for the first time. The ranking applies to the bridges on Oklahoma’s highway system maintained by the state, which includes interstates, U.S. highways and state highways.

OKC ranks No. 1 for street art for the second consecutive year
August, 2022 - USA Today
For the second consecutive year, Oklahoma City has been selected as USA Today’s number No. 1 city for street art. The site put together a panel of experts and in-house editors to determine a top 20 list of nominee cities. Then, the public was allowed to voice support for their favorite city through a four-week voting period to determine the final rankings.

OSU and OU aviation programs rank among the nation's best
August, 2022 - Flying Magazine
The School of Aviation at the University of Oklahoma was recognized recently by Flying Magazine as the top college aviation program in the country. The program at Oklahoma State University was also judged by the magazine among the nation’s top performers ranking No. 4.The OU School of Aviation scored a total of 43 points out of 50. OSU earned 40 out of a total 50 possible points.

OKC is among the best-run cities in America
August, 2022 - WalletHub
Oklahoma City is listed in the top 10 of WalletHub’s “2022’s Best- & Worst-Run Cities in America” list. The site compared 150 of the United States’ largest cities to determine the rankings. Cities were judged on their quality of services in contrast to their per-capita budget. Oklahoma City ranked No. 8.

OKC ranks No. 4 for favorite cities to visit in the U.S.
August, 2022 - Travel Awaits
Travel Awaits’ 2022 Best of Travel Awards gave readers the opportunity to vote for their favorite travel destinations and businesses across the country. Oklahoma City ranked No. 4. The article mentioned several historical landmarks around the city including the Stockyards, the First National Center, and the Boathouse District.

Oklahoma ranks #1 in the nation for high schools aviation programs
August, 2022 - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
The four-year "You Can Fly" high school curriculum developed by Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is being adopted by school districts at a record pace throughout the state. Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell announced that Oklahoma is first in the nation for the number of schools approved to teach the AOPA aviation curriculum starting this fall. There will be 58 school districts across the state signed onto the program.

OKC has some of the most affordable rent in the country
August, 2022 - Zumper
The most recent Zumper National Rent Index ranked Oklahoma City No. 6 as the most affordable city for one-bedroom rents. According to Zumper, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in OKC is $850. Oklahoma City was just one of 18 cities where the average one-bedroom rent still comes in under $1,000.

Cyber-defense program earns Rose State College national recognition
August, 2022 - National Security Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Rose State College has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. The designation was announced recently by the National Security Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Cybersecurity courses at Rose State provide students with opportunities to apply a variety of technologies employed in the complex world of cybersecurity. Courses are continuously updated to ensure that students remain current on strategies. When they complete training, they’re ready to take positions in high demand across a wide variety of public and private industry sectors.

OU ranks No. 1 for best college to study meteorology
August, 2022 - OutstandingColleges.com
OutstandingColleges.com recently ranked OU’s School of Metrology program as the best in the nation—surpassing universities such as Cornell, MIT and Yale. OutstandingColleges.com cited the school’s broad portfolio of academic and research offerings addressing weather and climate research topics “from the tropics to the poles” and how students and scientists at OU study issues critical not just to day-to-day forecasts but to the long-term health of the environment, the national economy, and to the future of people in Oklahoma and around the globe.

OCCC ranks among best film schools
August, 2022 - MovieMaker
Oklahoma City Community College has been named among MovieMaker’s 40 Best Film Schools of 2022. The annual list highlights schools that prepare students for every aspect of moviemaking. OCCC’s Digital Cinema Production program offers hands-on film production classes and has instructors who are actively working in the industry.

UCO ranks among best schools for software engineering
August, 2022 - BestAccreditedColleges.org
The University of Central Oklahoma has earned top rankings among universities for its software engineering program. According to BestAccreditedColleges.org, UCO earned high marks for the overall excellence of its program as well as for its affordability.

Oklahoma ranked No. 1 for drone readiness
July, 2022 - George Mason University
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University completed a study on which states are ready for drone commerce and Oklahoma ranked number one out of all 50 states.

OKC ranks No. 16 for the 100 best metros to visit on vacation this summer
June, 2022 - WalletHub
In order to determine the best summer vacation spots, WalletHub compared 100 of the most populated metro areas across six key categories. Wallet Hub evaluated those categories using 43 key indicators.

Oklahoma earns No. 6 ranking for veteran-owned businesses
June, 2022 - U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
According to a recent review of data provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Census Bureau, about 7.7% of businesses in Oklahoma are owned by veterans.

OKC now the 20th-biggest city in the U.S.
June, 2022 - U.S. Census
The new census population data showed that Oklahoma City is the 20th largest city in the country, surpassing Nashville and Washington D.C., with around 687,700 people.

Oklahoma City named a top-10 city for college grads
June, 2022 - Zumper.com
Zumper.com has named Oklahoma City as one of the “Top 10 best cities for college grads.” The site considered average income, median rent prices, unemployment rates, opportunities for social activity and more in their analysis of the country’s top cities.

The Sooner State has some of the lowest gas prices in the U.S.
June, 2022 - GasBuddy.com
According to industry watcher GasBuddy.com, which tracks fuel prices at more than 150,000 fuel stations across the country, Oklahoma – with an average pump price of $4.41 a gallon – claims the third-lowest prices among the 50 states.

Oklahoma ranks No. 5 for least expensive state for household bills
June, 2022 - Doxo
According to the report, the average U.S. household spends $24,032 annually, or roughly $2,003 per month, covering common household bills. The average monthly bill expense for Oklahomans is $1,634, or 37% of household income. This amount is 18.4% below the national average.

Financially, OKC a good place for seniors
June, 2022 - SmartAsset
OKC ranks among the top 10 places where senior adults are most financially secure, according to a new study. The study by SmartAsset analyzed data for the 100 U.S. metro areas with the largest 65-and-older populations to determine where seniors are the most financially secure.

Oklahoma ranks #4 for states where retirement savings is most cost-effective
May, 2022 - GoBankingRates
GOBakingRates ranked Oklahoma #4 for states where retirement will cost less than $45,000 a year. The report stated Oklahoma’s annual expenditures totaled $41,822.

Arbor Day Foundation recognizes OKC as a Tree City USA for the 17th year
May, 2022 - Arbor Day Foundation
Oklahoma City was named a 2021 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to supporting a community that places value on the planting and caring of trees. Oklahoma City achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: forming a tree board or department, creating a tree-care ordinance, having an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

OKC has the lowest home rental rates in the U.S.
May, 2022 - Realtor.com
Realtor.com ranks Oklahoma City the lowest metro for overall median rent out of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the country. In December 2021, Oklahoma City was the only metro on the list to have an overall median rent cost to be under $1,000.

OKC ranked No. 2 most affordable housing market in the world
April, 2022 - Bloomberg
If you are looking for a place where you can get a lot of house without breaking the bank you better check out OKC. In fact, Bloomberg ranks OKC as the No. 2 most affordable housing market in the whole world.

Oklahoma ranks No. 4 for the lowest median home price
April, 2022 - World Population Review
World Population Review ranked Oklahoma No. 4 for the state with the lowest median home price in 2022. Oklahoma had a medium home price of $136,800.

OKC ranked No. 3 for the most affordable places to buy a new home
March, 2022 - Realtor.com
To find the best places to buy a brand-new home, Realtor.com looked at the median sales price of newly constructed homes in more than 500 metro areas. Each metro had at least 50 new-home sales to be included, and they looked at all types of properties, from single-family homes to condos and townhomes.

Young professionals looking for a place to live? Check out OKC
March, 2022 - Policygenius
Policygenius analyzed 250 cities for cost of living, average housing costs as percent of income, and the number of “fun” businesses — including bars, restaurants, and other entertainment venues. They also looked at three different numbers to indicate how healthy the city’s economy is and how available jobs are too early-career workers and the population at large. The results? Oklahoma City is a top 25 metro for young professionals.

OKC ranked No. 2 for lowest cost of living
March, 2022 - C2ER
Oklahoma City ranked No. 2 for Lowest Cost of Living among all reporting large cities over 500,000 population. The C2ER Annual Cost of Living Index for Oklahoma City in 2021 was 86.5.

OKC earns AAA rating for 12th year in a row
March, 2022 - Moody's/S&P
Moody’s and S&P affirmed Oklahoma City’s AAA rating. The triple-A rating is the highest awarded by each agency. It’s the 12th year in a row OKC achieved the highest rating.

OKC's Paycom ranks among World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2022
March, 2022 - Fast Company
Paycom Software, Inc., a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital management software, has been named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies list for 2022, which emphasized Paycom’s latest innovation Beti™, an industry-first technology that empowers employees to do their own payroll.

Oklahoma ranks No. 12 for most military families
March, 2022 - U.S. Census
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more military families living in Oklahoma than in most other states. A recent analysis of census data found that 4.4% of Oklahomans live in military households. That ranks Oklahoma the 12th highest in the nation.

OKC again named among 'best places to live and work as a moviemaker,' moves up in rankings
March, 2022 - MovieMakers
MovieMaker's annual list of "Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker" included Oklahoma City at No. 13 of the big cities list, outpacing cities such as San Diego, Dallas, Kansas City, Portland and San Francisco. The magazine highlighted not only the passage of the Filmed in Oklahoma Act, which increased the incentives cap from $8 million to $30 million of the state's film rebate program (20% to 38%), but also the talent of local crews and the fact that "we've got everything you need for a major production," according to filmmaker Mickey Reece as quoted in the piece. 

OKC named a top place for creatives
February, 2022 - Thrillist
Through our commitment to public art, our fabulous museums and galleries, and the entertainment options that thrive on musical and theatrical genius, our community is drenched in creative talent. We’ve been noticed on a national scale for the creativity we take pride in. Oklahoma City was recently named by Thrillist as one of the nation’s “Great American Cities for Creatives (That You Can Actually Afford to Live In).”

OKC is one of the best cities for startups
February, 2022 - Real Estate Witch
To determine the best cities for starting a business, Real Estate Witch analyzed publicly available data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, UpCounsel, Google Trends, U.S. Patent Office, and the American Legislative Exchange Council Center for State Fiscal Reform. OKC came in at No. 12 in their rankings.

Oklahoma City named as an emerging future hub for life sciences development
February, 2022 - Bisnow National
Bisnow National recently named Oklahoma City as one of the five cities that are developing the infrastructure for larger life sciences ecosystems.

Oklahoma City named as one of the 100 most-loved destinations around the world
January, 2022 - Tourism Sentiment Index
For the first time ever, destinations around the world have been ranked by Tourism Sentiment Index to uncover those that are most-loved. These top destinations made the list according to consumer sentiment – what people really feel. Being named in the rankings means Oklahoma City has earned the love and an impressive Tourism Sentiment Score® during one of the toughest years the tourism industry has faced.