A BETTER ECONOMY

BE

TT

ER

ED

UC

ATIO

N

MO

RE LIF

EST

YL

E C

HO

ICE

S

OSU MAINTAINS A PRESENCE IN ALL 77

OKLAHOMA COUNTIES THROUGH ITS

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE

CONVERGE in OKLAHOMA

OF 4-YEAR-OLDS ARE ENROLLED IN PRE-K,

THE 2ND-HIGHEST STATE IN THE U.S. 74%

Early education has been proven to lead to better grades and higher graduation rates. It also raises the likelihood

for post-graduate education, which increases personal earnings and promotes a stronger economy. A survey of

factors such as average metro home price, energy bills, cost of doctors visits, and retail price of a half gallon of milk

reveals Oklahoma to be the nation’s least expensive state to live in overall.

2001 million

LAKES

35 STATE PARKS

SURFACE ACRES OF WATER

INSTITUTIONS FOR

HIGHER LEARNING OVERALL

GOLF CITY

12th

9th

11th

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0%

20082009

2010 20112012

HAS AMONG THE LOWEST

HOUSING COST BURDENS IN

THE UNITED STATES

Oklahoma

50+

AMONG U.S. PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

1st

IN OVERALL

TEAM VALUE

(out of 30)

OKC

MOST AFFORDABLE

CITY IN AMERICA

(Forbes ‘14)

MANY OKLAHOMA COMMUNITIES RATE AMONG

THE NATION’S BEST FOR LOW COST OF LIVING

OKLAHOMA IS HOME

TO MORE THAN 552 MUSEUMS, INCLUDING:

Historial

Societies

85History

Museums

Art

Museums

BEST STATE

TO DO BUSINESS

RENT

ELECTRICITY

GAS

MOST BUSINESS-

FRIENDLY

CITIESTULSA

OKLAHOMA’S UNEMPLOYMENT

RATE HAS CONSISTENTLY BEAT

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE

Sources: AAA, CBS MoneyWatch, Center for Housing Policy, Chief Executive Magazine, CNBC, CNN Money, ElectricChoice.com, Forbes, Golf Digest, National Institute for Early Education Research, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, Oklahoma Museums Association, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department, University of Oklahoma, U.S. Census Bureau

COST OF RENT, ELECTRICITY AND GAS IS WELL BELOW

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE

OK 4.6%

6.3%U.S.

% of U.S. average

59% ($720 per month)

62% (7.80¢ per kwh)

92% ($3.04 per gallon)

NATIONAL MERIT

SCHOLARS ARE

CURRENTLY

ENROLLED

700

UNIVERSITY OFOKLAHOMA

#2 – PRYOR CREEK

#8 – MUSKOGEE

#17 – ARDMORE

#27 – TULSA

#50 – PONCA CITY

(Forbes)

(Chief Executive

Magazine ‘13)

(CNN Money ‘12)

14th CITY FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS#1

#1OKC

13752137Oklahoma U.S. Average

Percentages of Working Households with a Severe

Housing Cost Burden

O K CTHUNDER

The Circles of Life