Preparing to Retire

OU Retirement Eligibility:

You are eligible to retire with benefits from OU if you meet one of the following conditions:

• Age 62 with at least 10 years of OU benefits-eligible service.
• When age plus (at least ten) years of benefits-eligible OU service equal 80 or more (Rule of 80);
• Any age with 25 years of benefits eligible OU service.
• An employee is eligible to apply for disability retirement with OU at any age with at least 10 years of benefits eligible OU service.

Service Credit

All benefits-eligible university employees, with a continuous appointment, who work 20 hours or more per week for six months or longer, can accumulate university service years toward OU retirement eligibility.

Employees who have been long-term or career university employees are rewarded for years of OU service. “University Service” consists of all benefits-eligible University of Oklahoma experience. This does not include temporary time. Employees who were hired prior to January 1, 2002, may receive one year of OU service credited for every four years of verified employment experience in other qualified institutions of higher education. Up to a maximum of five years may be credited.

OU does not provide service credit for accumulated short-term disability hours.

Termination Prior to Retirement

Employees who terminate before satisfying the eligibility requirements for university retirement do not receive the retiree benefits package. However, the university does honor all prior OU benefits eligible service when determining retirement eligibility. Eligibility for retirement from Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System does not guarantee eligibility for OU retirement. Qualifications for OU retirement must also be met in order to receive the retiree benefits package.

Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System (OTRS) Eligibility

Rule of 80

OTRS members who joined prior to July 1, 1992, can retire with full benefits from Teachers’ Retirement System by reaching one of the following:

► Age 62 with at least 5 years of OTRS service credit.  

► When age plus years of OTRS service credit equal 80 or more (Rule of 80).

Rule of 90

OTRS members who joined on or after July 1, 1992, can retire with full benefits from Teachers’ Retirement System by reaching one of the following:

► Age 62 with at least 5 years of OTRS service credit.  

► When age plus years of OTRS service credit equal 90 or more (Rule of 90).        

New Rule of 90

OTRS members who joined on or after November 1, 2011, can retire with full benefits from Teachers’ Retirement System by reaching one of the following:

► Age 65 with at least 5 years of OTRS service credit or age 65 with at least 7 years of service if hired on or after 11/1/2017.  

► When age plus years of OTRS service credit equal 90 or more (New Rule of 90), with a minimum age of 60.

Find more information about OTRS here.