Oakwood University

Private · Selective · AL

Photo: Benjamin548 (Public domain)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationAL · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads1,153

Student:faculty14:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate30.4%

6-yr grad rate44.6%

Drop-out rate28.9%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$23k

Out-of-state tuition$23k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity98.6%

Gender diversity56.3%

International0%

IdentityHBCU · Seventh Day Adventists

Overview

Oakwood is a private historically Black university in Huntsville, Alabama, owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its identity combines HBCU heritage with a Sabbath-observant religious rhythm that shapes daily campus life, and it has built a reputation well beyond its size for producing both health professionals and gifted musicians, with a legacy that includes some of the most celebrated collegiate vocal ensembles in the country.

Academics

Pre-med and the health sciences are longstanding strengths, with a track record of preparing students well for medical and other health professional schools, aided by Huntsville's growing biotech and research presence. Theology and ministry programs train future Adventist pastors, teachers, and denominational leaders from across the country and internationally, and the university's academic culture blends rigor with explicit spiritual formation woven into coursework and campus expectations alike.

Campus & student life

Campus life follows the rhythm of Sabbath observance, running from Friday evening to Saturday evening, which shapes the weekly schedule, dining, and social activities in a way students should expect and plan around rather than treat as incidental. The musical tradition here is nationally significant: Oakwood's choirs and a cappella groups are celebrated well beyond the Adventist community, regularly touring and recording, and the group Take 6 got its start among Oakwood students, a lineage the university still takes visible pride in.

Getting in

Oakwood looks for students comfortable with its religious mission and Sabbath-centered community life, and Adventist church affiliation, while not required of all applicants, shapes much of campus culture and daily expectations. The admissions process is relatively accessible relative to more selective HBCUs, and strong musical ability or interest in ministry can be a meaningful part of a student's application, even outside formal audition-based programs.

After graduation

Health-sciences graduates have a strong record of admission into medical, dental, and other health professional programs, a point of real pride for the university. Theology and ministry graduates go on to serve Adventist congregations and institutions across the country and abroad, and music graduates and alumni are visible well beyond the church, including in professional and commercial music careers.

Worth knowing

Prospective students should understand upfront that Sabbath observance is a genuine, lived expectation on campus, not a background detail, shaping everything from dining hall hours to weekend planning. The music program in particular has an outsized national reputation relative to the university's size, and students drawn to gospel, a cappella, or sacred music traditions will find a community here with real depth and history.

oakwood.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate45.2%

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot used

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Own application.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗