Oakwood University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Huntsville, Alabama. It enrolls 1,153 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
53/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes22
Value9
Affordability52
Selectivity86
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 45.2%, Oakwood University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
45.2%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Oakwood University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
14.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Oakwood University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $25,669 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$25,669
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
44%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
57%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$22,512
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,384
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,840
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$8,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,470
Total Cost of Attendance
$40,176
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$23,999
$30,001 – $48,000
$22,444
$48,001 – $75,000
$24,501
$75,001 – $110,000
$28,074
Over $110,000
$27,219
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$37,25075%percentile
$46,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,875
↓ $3,125
No Pell $16,250
↓ $10,750
Dependent students $21,500
↓ $5,500
Independent students $18,750
↓ $8,250
Female students $20,500
↓ $6,500
Male students $22,250
↓ $4,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $18,750, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
39% of full-time students who enrolled at Oakwood University graduate within six years, and 67% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
39%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
67%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Oakwood University earn a median of $42,488 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,488
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$33,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$42,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,000, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
21.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 57% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Oakwood University is home to 1,153 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,153
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
18%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 64.8%747
Hispanic 7.6%88
Other 2.6%30
Asian 1.6%18
White 1.4%16
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Oakwood University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityHuntsville, Alabama
Housing
Strongly residential1,266 beds for 1,153 students
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Oakwood University offers
a varied set of programs:
34 distinct programs across
15 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Oakwood University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$77M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$52,221
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
97 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
19
20%
$57,326
Associate Professors
32
33%
$51,307
Assistant Professors
46
47%
$50,749
Pros & Cons of Oakwood University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Oakwood University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Oakwood University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Oakwood University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Oakwood University.
Is Oakwood University hard to get into?
Oakwood University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 45.2%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Oakwood University?
Oakwood University has an acceptance rate of 45.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Oakwood University cost?
The average net price after aid at Oakwood University is $25,669 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Oakwood University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,488 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $25,669 per year. That's roughly 1.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Oakwood University known for?
Oakwood University is best known for its programs in Biology, Liberal Arts, Theology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Oakwood University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Oakwood University are $42,488, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Oakwood University accredited?
Yes. Oakwood University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Oakwood University?
Oakwood University enrolls 1,153 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Oakwood University?
Oakwood University graduates 39% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Oakwood University a public or private college?
Oakwood University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Oakwood University located?
Oakwood University is located in Huntsville, Alabama.
What programs does Oakwood University offer?
Oakwood University offers 34 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Liberal Arts, Theology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Oakwood University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Oakwood University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Other colleges in Alabama share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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