Academics
Langston University is a public land-grant college in rural Oklahoma, and as the only HBCU in the state, is com mitted to providing all students with a comprehensive first-rate education “through academic, research, community engagement, extension, and cocurricular experiences.” Langston’s 35 programs range from associate degrees to a doctorate in Physical Therapy, with the school being especially known for its School of Agriculture and Applied Science and its Nursing program. Undergraduate research opportunities are abundant, and students are encouraged to acquire first-hand experience in putting the scientific method into practice. Students are partnered with research mentors to gain experience in the designing, conducting, and analyzing of research projects. Satellite branches in Tulsa and Oklahoma City keep in the Langston tradition of educating the community, all while offering flexibility, and a free summer program offers eligible high schoolers innovative hands-on instruction.
Career
The main campus lies in the heart of idyllic Oklahoma, surrounded by farmland with horses and cattle grazing in pastures. The campus is noted for its 300-acre Goat Research Institute, a leading authority on goat-production-system technology. Langston is the epitome of the “college town,” as activities largely center around the university and few students commute. In addition to traditional dormitories, the university provides special on-campus apartments to accommodate students from all walks (parents, married couples) of life. Greek life flourishes on campus and students can choose from a wide variety of clubs and activities, including intramural sports, student government, the student newspaper and radio station, and many more. The “Marching Pride” band, an elite coterie of dancers and musicians who perform at various functions, truly is the pride of Langston. Taking advantage of the many popular local attractions, Langston Lions can be seen roaming the corridors of the nearby Oklahoma City Museum of Art or enjoying a meal in the trendy Tulsa Blue Dome Entertainment District.
Culture
Career paths for Langston graduates are varied, but nursing and education are popular choices. Many alumni go on to serve their communities as healthcare workers at local hospitals and as public-school teachers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. According to Payscale.com, on average, Langston graduates earn a base annual salary of $60,000. Alumnus Dr. Henry Ponder served as the president of Talladega College, Benedict College, and Fisk University, and as general president of Alpha Phi Alpha, a prominent intercollegiate Black fraternity. Other notable alumni include Marques Haynes, a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and Bessie Coleman, the first African American female pilot.