Higher Education
Oklahoma House panel advances study of three-year bachelor’s degrees
Ray Carter | February 10, 2026
Lawmakers took the first step towards shortening the time and money it takes to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Oklahoma, passing legislation that opens the door for a three-year process.
House Bill 3315, by state Rep. Ryan Eaves, R-Atoka, requires the State Regents for Higher Education to study the feasibility of implementing a three-year, or 90-credit-hour, bachelor’s degree. Under the bill, the Regents must submit a report to the governor and Legislative leaders by July 1, 2027.
Gov. Kevin Stitt recently endorsed the concept, saying a three-year degree “speeds up workforce entry” and “makes so much sense.”
The savings created by a three-year degree could be significant.
At the University of Oklahoma, resident students living on campus pay an average $31,733 combined in direct costs, including tuition, fees, books and supplies, and housing costs, which rises to $38,999 per year when indirect costs such as transportation are added in.
HB 3315 easily passed the House Postsecondary Education Committee on a 9-0 vote. The bill will next receive a hearing in the House Education Oversight Committee.
Ray Carter
Director, Center for Independent Journalism
Ray Carter is the director of OCPA’s Center for Independent Journalism. He has two decades of experience in journalism and communications. He previously served as senior Capitol reporter for The Journal Record, media director for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and chief editorial writer at The Oklahoman. As a reporter for The Journal Record, Carter received 12 Carl Rogan Awards in four years—including awards for investigative reporting, general news reporting, feature writing, spot news reporting, business reporting, and sports reporting. While at The Oklahoman, he was the recipient of several awards, including first place in the editorial writing category of the Associated Press/Oklahoma News Executives Carl Rogan Memorial News Excellence Competition for an editorial on the history of racism in the Oklahoma legislature.