Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

As Student Loan Debt Soars, Oklahoma Wesleyan University Offers a Solution

  • 01/05/15

BARTLESVILLE, OK — With student loan debt at record levels, high school seniors are becoming increasingly apprehensive about going to college in light of the potential debt burden that will follow them upon graduation.

The fact is that seven out of ten graduating seniors at public and private nonprofit colleges had student loans in 2013, according to a recently released report from the Project on Student Debt at The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS). “Graduating with burdensome debt is not a foregone conclusion,” says Lauren Asher.

That is, unless you attend Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU). OKWU is the only college or university in the state of Oklahoma that has implemented an ongoing program, called PURSUE, that assists students in making their loan payments if they can’t find a job or can’t find one with a high enough salary to adequately make their loan payments.

“The American dream is dying,” says Dr. Everett Piper, the president of OKWU. “Going to college is becoming riskier than ever. What if you graduate and can’t find the right job that will help you pay off your student loans. This happens more than you would like to think.”

OKWU and Piper saw this coming years ago, and did something about it in 2012 with the program’s implementation.

“We embraced this program because we believe students should be rewarded for their hard work and empowered to pursue their calling — no matter what field they choose,” says Dr. Piper.

PURSUE is available to all incoming students at OKWU, whether they are freshmen or transfers, as long as they have 60 or more hours left to graduate. The school pays the premium. Upon graduation, through the PURSUE program, OKWU will partner with students with low to moderate income to assist them in paying back student loans. PURSUE covers all federal student loans, private alternative student loans, and parent PLUS loans. In order to receive assistance, students must graduate with a Bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, and must be employed a minimum of 30 hours a week.

To find out more about how PURSUE, visit www.okwu.edu/pursue.

Oklahoma Wesleyan is a private Christian university. Recently voted one of the Regionally Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report, OKWU continues to gain national attention for their commitment to education. OKWU has also caught the eye of CBS Money Watch and Forbes’ Top College list.

To learn more about Oklahoma Wesleyan visit www.okwu.edu.

Featured

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.

  • Tennessee Middle School Completes Health, Life Safety Renovations

    The Giles County Board of Education in Pulaski, Tenn., recently announced that a series of renovation projects has been completed at Bridgeforth Middle School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers and Brindley Construction to modernize building systems at one of the district’s oldest schools.

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.