Oral Roberts University

Visiting your child at ORU means flying into Tulsa International Airport (TUL), about 13-20 miles from campus. Plan the US visitor visa well ahead.

Getting from TUL to campus

Visitor visa for parents

Indian parents need a B1/B2 visitor visa. First-time interview waits are long and vary sharply by consulate, so city choice matters - you may book at ANY US consulate in India, not just your home city.

• Plan 8-12 months ahead, especially for graduation - graduations do NOT qualify for emergency/expedited appointments.
• You can book at any consulate in India; many families fly to Chennai to save months versus Mumbai or Delhi.
• The dropbox (interview waiver) window shrank from 48 to 12 months in 2025 - most parents with older expired visas now need a full interview.
• Visitor stays are up to 6 months per visit, set by the officer at entry on the I-94.

Just admitted to ORU? Most Indian students enter on an F-1 academic visa (DS-160 fee $185 + SEVIS I-901 fee $350). J-1 is for exchange programs (SEVIS $220), M-1 for vocational study. Spouses/children come on F-2/J-2/M-2 dependent visas. You can enter the US up to 30 days before your program start date. For Fall 2026, Indian F-1 applicants must interview at one of five US consulates in India.

Arrival checklist

• Book your flight into Tulsa International Airport (TUL) - ~13-20 miles from campus.
• From TUL, a taxi/rideshare is simplest (~20 min); Tulsa Transit buses are the budget option.
• Confirm student baggage allowance with your airline.
• Carry your I-20, SEVIS receipt and financial documents in hand luggage for US immigration.

Tulsa, home to Oral Roberts University, is one of the more affordable US cities - about $1,000-1,550 a month all-in sharing and cooking. Oklahoma's low cost of living keeps rent and daily expenses down; a car is useful as transit is limited.

Monthly cost of living in Tulsa (a student estimate)

That's roughly $12,000-18,000 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.

Finding accommodation

Oral Roberts students share apartments near the south Tulsa campus; the city is spread out, so many keep a car.

• Tulsa Transit serves the city but is limited - a car helps.
• South Tulsa keeps you near the ORU campus.
• Tulsa International Airport is a short drive for travel.

Working part-time

On an F-1 visa you can work on-campus up to 20 hours/week during term (full-time in breaks). Off-campus work needs authorization - CPT during study, OPT after (up to 12 months, +24 for STEM degrees). You cannot freelance or work off-campus without approval.

Safety & student support

Tulsa and its Oral Roberts University campus areas are generally safe by US standards; use normal awareness at night.

• Oral Roberts University runs a security escort, safety app and (often) campus shuttles - save the campus safety number.
• The campus and main student areas are busy and well-populated.
• Tulsa is car-friendly; plan transport in advance as bus coverage is limited at night.

Indian community & food

Tulsa has a small but growing Indian community with a couple of dedicated grocers and a Hindu temple.

Indian grocery stores

• Masala and More and Laxmi Spices of India - Tulsa's dedicated Indian grocers for spices and staples.
• Pan-Asia Supermarket carries a South Asian section.
• Oklahoma City (~1.5 hrs) has a wider desi selection for a bulk run.

Student community

• Tulsa-area Indian associations run Diwali and Holi events.
• The Hindu Temple of Greater Tulsa serves the community.

• A few Indian restaurants in Tulsa serving the community.

Cost & living figures for Tulsa last verified Jun 2026. Figures are estimates and change over time.