Campus & Student Life at Oakwood University

Home to about 1,339 undergraduates in 2020, Oakwood is a small, private university located in Huntsville, Alabama. This urban setting might be best suited for students who like the fast-paced city life. Should you tire of the campus however, Oakwood offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by Oakwood can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our Oakwood Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

Oakwood is an "Historically Black College or University" (HBCU)

The Higher Education Act of 1965 established historically black colleges and universities as institutions whose principal mission was the education of African-Americans. Today, the HBCU designation does not necessitate that Oakwood is exclusively or even predominantly African-American (though it currently is). Thanks to integration efforts, there are HBCUs with non-black majorities and non-HBCUs with black majorities. For more information you can review the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Oakwood University is Affiliated With the Seventh Day Adventists Faith.

Some, but not all, schools with a religious affiliation may require a statement of faith or religious studies component. Contact the school to see what their requirements are. If an affinity with the Seventh Day Adventists faith interests you, check out our ranking of The Best Seventh Day Adventists Colleges and Universities.

Oakwood Has a Disability Services Site

Individuals with disabilities make up 6.0% of the student population at Oakwood. For more information on policies and accommodations that the university provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit Oakwood Disability Services.

Oakwood offers On-Campus Day Care

For students with young families, Oakwood does offer some day care. Programs like this are often in very high demand, so be sure to inquire as soon as you can.

Freshmen Living Arrangements at Oakwood University

Oakwood offers on-campus housing, but freshmen are not required to take advantage of it. In the end though, most do choose to live in the dorms.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at Oakwood University

Oakwood has a comparatively small, student body. There were 1,339 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 1,240 (92.6%). Part-time attendance was 99 (7.4%).

Oakwood University is Ranked #933 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, Oakwood is more diverse than average in terms of overall diversity. We rank Oakwood #933 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at Oakwood by looking closer at the ethnic,  gender,  age, and geographic diversity metrics from the Oakwood Diversity Guide.

Oakwood University Competes in the NSCAA

Oakwood has a total of 87 student athletes, 39 men and 48 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Oakwood University Athletics