Oakwood University
#9 Best Communications Colleges in Alabama- Graduation Rate
- 47% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,488 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $25,669 D
- 50% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 45% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 12.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.8 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best Communications Colleges in Alabama.
Every $1 spent returns $12.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,214,856.
What The Data Says
-
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Every $1 invested returns $12.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Oakwood University Matters
Oakwood University is a private liberal arts college in Huntsville, AL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,153
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU · 95
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose Oakwood University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 45% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $25,669 a year after grants and scholarships — 50% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,488 ten years after enrolling — 4% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.47 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Just 45% of applicants gain admission to Oakwood University, a private nonprofit school in Huntsville, Alabama, with a tight-knit community of 1,153 students. The school’s focus on health professions, biology, business, and psychology attracts students looking for a supportive environment and personalized attention.
The data from Opportunity Insights is not available, but Oakwood’s graduation rate stands at 47%. This suggests that while not everyone completes their degree, those who do may find opportunities in sectors like health and business, where graduates earn a median of $42,488 within ten years.
Prospective students should consider the financial aspects as well. The net price of attendance is around $25,669, with a median debt of $27,000. Students who thrive here often come from diverse backgrounds, with 44% receiving Pell Grants. This school is suited for individuals seeking a close community and strong programs in health and business.
Rankings
- #9 Best Communications Colleges in Alabama
- #14 Best Biology Colleges in Alabama
- #16 Best Psychology Colleges in Alabama
- #19 Best Bachelor's Programs in Alabama
- #19 Best Master's Programs in Alabama
- #22 Best Nursing Colleges in Alabama
- #23 Best Business Colleges in Alabama
- #24 Best Colleges in Alabama
Can I Get In?
How selective Oakwood University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Oakwood University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Huntsville, Alabama, Oakwood University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 45%. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 50%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,513
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.57
- First-Gen Students
- 18%
- Applicants
- 1,446
- Admitted
- 984
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Oakwood University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Oakwood University is $22,512, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $25,669. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,999 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $22,512
- Out-of-State
- $22,512
- Avg Net Price
- $25,669
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 44%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 57%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $23,999
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $22,444
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $24,501
- Family Income $110K+
- $27,219
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Oakwood University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Oakwood University report median earnings of $42,488, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,969
- 8 Years
- $36,092
- 10 Years
- $42,488
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.64x
- Earning > $25K
- 42%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (100)
- 27%
- 100% (100)
- 27%
- 100% (100)
- 27%
- 100% (100)
- 27%
How Oakwood Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Oakwood University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Oakwood University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $25,669/year ($102,676 total). Graduates earn $42,488 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,317,532 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,214,856 (12.8× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 47% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $102,676
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,317,532
- Net Return
- $1,214,856
- ROI Multiple
- 12.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $25,669
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 47%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-3,922,554
Top Programs
The fields Oakwood University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Biology & Biomedical 21%
- Health Professions 18%
- Business & Marketing 15%
- Psychology 10%
- Humanities 8%
- Social Sciences 6%
- Mathematics & Statistics 4%
- Communications 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Oakwood University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Oakwood University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Huntsville, Alabama, Oakwood University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 45%. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Oakwood University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Oakwood University is $22,512, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $25,669. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,999 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Oakwood University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Oakwood University report median earnings of $42,488, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Oakwood University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Oakwood University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.47, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Oakwood University.
- Dillard UniversityNew Orleans, LA · Close peer44% grad $39,196 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlotte, NC · Close peer34% grad $42,680 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Brevard CollegeBrevard, NC · Close peer44% grad $43,545 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Huston-Tillotson UniversityAustin, TX · Close peer35% grad $42,937 earn 39% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Reinhardt UniversityWaleska, GA · Close peer39% grad $46,541 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Anna Maria CollegePaxton, MA · Close peer44% grad $46,651 earn 50% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Oakwood University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Oakwood University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.47, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note