Oklahoma Governor Pushes for Faster Bachelor’s Degrees and Higher Education Reform

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is spearheading a series of initiatives aimed at accelerating degree completion and reforming higher education oversight in the state. These efforts include a push for 90-credit-hour bachelor’s degree programs and changes to college tenure systems, all with the goal of better aligning education with workforce needs.

Accelerated Degree Programs: A 90-Credit Pathway

On February 5, 2025, Governor Stitt signed an executive order requiring Oklahoma’s higher education institutions to offer 90-credit-hour bachelor’s degree programs for select majors. This move is intended to expedite students’ entry into the workforce and reduce the overall cost of a bachelor’s degree. The governor stated that a quicker pathway to a degree “speeds up workforce entry. It makes so much sense.”

The initiative follows similar programs in Utah, Indiana, and Minnesota, though implementation in those states is still in early stages with limited data available. Butler University currently offers three-year bachelor’s degree programs for over 40 academic majors.

The University of Oklahoma has already received approval to reduce required credit hours from 120 to 90 for eight high-demand degrees: social work, applied artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital manufacturing, healthcare information systems, software development and integration, integrative studies, and interdisciplinary studies. These degrees will maintain academic rigor while reducing time to graduation and educational costs.

Reforms to Tenure Systems

Alongside the push for accelerated degrees, Governor Stitt signed a second executive order restructuring college tenure systems. Research universities will maintain tenure but with mandatory five-year reviews. Regional schools and community colleges will transition to performance-based contracts tied to student success metrics.

Data Collection and Program Evaluation

The executive order also mandates the collection of postgraduate employment data, including job type, wages, and hours worked, to improve return-on-investment analysis. This data will be used when approving new academic programs and reviewing existing ones, potentially leading to the modification or elimination of programs that don’t demonstrate strong workforce outcomes.

Legislative Support and Concerns

A bill mirroring Governor Stitt’s call for a 90-credit-hour feasibility study is currently progressing through the Oklahoma legislature, having received a unanimous vote in the House Postsecondary Education Committee on February 10th.

However, the proposed changes have faced some criticism. Concerns have been raised about the potential for reduced academic breadth and limitations on research opportunities. Some faculty members fear that shorter degree pathways may diminish the overall learning experience and narrow students’ paths to success. Jennifer Frey, a professor at the University of Tulsa, argued that the changes may represent an attempt to remove general education requirements and that universities should focus on improving general education rather than eliminating it.

Others have expressed concerns that the option could erode the number of faculty jobs available and create a two-tier system based on financial means.

Support for Reform

Despite the concerns, the initiatives have garnered support from organizations like the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA). Nick Down, associate director of external affairs for ACTA, stated that the group supports the shorter degree program and believes the feasibility study is “long overdue.” ACTA also highlighted public concerns about the rising cost of higher education and a decline in overall trust in higher education institutions.

Governor Stitt’s Background

Kevin Stitt has served as the 28th governor of Oklahoma since 2019. He was reelected in 2022, defeating Joy Hofmeister with 55.4% of the vote. Stitt graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in accounting and is the founder and former CEO of Gateway Mortgage Group.