Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Oakwood University #1163 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $15,264 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Oakwood University in the 10.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Oakwood University #1402 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Oakwood University #1163 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Huntsville, Alabama, Oakwood University enrolls roughly 1,153 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 71.1% freshman retention rate and a 44.6% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Oakwood University draws strength from its focus on access and outcomes for low-income and first-generation students. 44.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 17.6% are first-generation college students — populations that often face barriers to degree completion and strong post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn about $15,264 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Oakwood University in the 10.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Oakwood University #1125 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio centers on Biological Sciences, a field that aligns with regional workforce demand and offers stable career pathways. As a smaller, focused institution, Oakwood University provides the personalized academic environment typical of baccalaureate colleges while delivering measurable financial outcomes for its graduates. Mobility sits in the 5.3 percentile, reflecting the institution's success in moving low-income and first-generation students into sustainable careers. Access ranks in the 74.9 percentile, and affordability sits in the 23.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Oakwood University's published cost of attendance is $40,176. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that figure: low-income families pay approximately $23,999, middle-income families pay around $24,501, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,219. Azimuth ranks Oakwood University #1084 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Oakwood University uses need-based financial aid to narrow the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works to meet demonstrated financial need according to its published aid policies. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $50,714, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Oakwood University is a strong fit for students interested in biological sciences and related fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in Huntsville, AL. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,714, placing Oakwood University in the 10.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $15,264 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Oakwood University in the 10.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 44.4% of undergraduates who receive Pell Grants and 17.6% who are first-generation students. Published cost of attendance is $27,219, with need-based aid available to help close the gap for qualifying students. Fit depends on alignment with Biological Sciences fields, which represent 15% of degree output. Students interested in these areas will find the strongest outcomes at this private university.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Oakwood University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Human Resources Management and Services
8 graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
32 graduates
Oakwood University's program mix is anchored in biological sciences and health-related fields, reflecting the institution's research and professional-training identity. Biology, General is the largest program with 40 graduates annually, followed by General Studies with 32 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $55,834, Social Work with 12 graduates, Theological and Ministerial Studies with 11 graduates, and Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants with 11 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 189 students annually, the institution's strength concentrates in Business at 15%, Social Sciences at 2%, and Education at 2%. The highest-earning programs reflect the institution's professional and applied orientation.
Human Resources Management and Services leads with 8 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $62,069, while General Studies with 32 graduates earns median 4-year earnings of $55,834. These earnings patterns reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter health, life sciences, and applied professional roles immediately after enrollment, with earnings reflecting early-career labor-market outcomes in high-demand sectors.
Several of Oakwood University's dominant programs are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to medical school, graduate study, or doctoral programs. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's concentration in biological sciences and health fields aligns with national labor-market demand and wage trends in these sectors.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tennessee State University Higher acceptance rate (42.1 percentage points higher) and located 98 miles away; similar graduate earnings | TN | 93% | $42,730 | Compare |
University Of North Alabama Higher acceptance rate (46 percentage points higher) and located 58 miles away; similar graduate earnings | AL | 96% | $45,415 | Compare |
Shorter University Higher acceptance rate (46.4 percentage points higher) and located 90 miles away; similar graduate earnings | GA | 97% | $44,604 | Compare |
Concord University Higher acceptance rate (39.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WV | 90% | $42,703 | Compare |
The Evergreen State College Higher acceptance rate (46.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WA | 97% | $45,320 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whitman College Similar quality tier (#32746 ranked) | WA | 38% | $67,589 | #32746 | Compare |
Randolph College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32748 ranked) | VA | 94% | $53,409 | #32748 | Compare |
Union University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32751 ranked) | TN | 60% | $53,990 | #32751 | Compare |
Arcadia University Similar quality tier (#32739 ranked) | PA | 80% | $58,336 | #32739 | Compare |
Tusculum University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32755 ranked) | TN | 72% | $44,367 | #32755 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Oakwood University's published cost of attendance is $40,176. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that figure: low-income families pay approximately $23,999, middle-income families pay around $24,501, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,219.
Azimuth ranks Oakwood University #1084 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Oakwood University uses need-based financial aid to narrow the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works to meet demonstrated financial need according to its published aid policies. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $50,714, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Oakwood University earn median 4-year earnings of $50,714, placing Oakwood University in the 10.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $15,264 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Oakwood University in the 10.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Oakwood University #1125 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Oakwood University's concentration in biological sciences and life sciences fields.
Biology, General is the largest program with 40 graduates, anchoring the institution's degree output in a field with stable career pathways and consistent demand. The General Studies program graduates 32 students earning median 4-year earnings of $55,834, at 1.1× the national benchmark for the field, while Social Work and Theological and Ministerial Studies each graduate substantial cohorts of 12 and 11 students respectively.
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants rounds out the top programs with 11 graduates. This program mix — anchored in Biological Sciences — positions Oakwood University graduates for outcomes that align with regional and national demand in health sciences, research, and life-sciences-adjacent professional fields.
