Oakwood University
Huntsville, Alabama · Private Nonprofit · 45.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 14/100 · Poor Value
Oakwood University, a Seventh-day Adventist HBCU in Huntsville, posts an ROI score of just 14 (Poor Value) - one of the weakest aggregate scores in our database. The math is brutal: $22,512 tuition, a $25,669 net price (higher than sticker, meaning the typical student receives negative aid after fees), $27,000 median federal debt, and ten-year median earnings of only $42,488. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.047 means typical borrowers owe more than they earn annually, producing a 32.4-year payback period. Completion is 44.6% and the repayment rate is just 46% - more than half of borrowers are not actively paying down principal three years after entering repayment. Pell-grant rate of 44.4% confirms the school serves a predominantly low-income student body, and the small 1,153-student enrollment limits program breadth. Oakwood's mission-driven Adventist religious education has real non-economic value, but the financial ROI case as of 2024-2025 Scorecard data is one of the weakest on our site.
The data raises concerns about Oakwood University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score14/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.05 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- Payback period32.4 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Oakwood University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $22,512/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,512/yr |
| Average net price | $25,669/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $102,676 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $42,488 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $25,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 32.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 44.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,153 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Oakwood University is $22,512/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $25,669/year, or roughly $102,676 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $23,999/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,219/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $42,488 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.05 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $23,999 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,444 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,501 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,074 |
| $110,001+ | $27,219 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $23,999 net per year - more than the in-state band of nearly every flagship public. The $30K-$48K bracket pays $22,444, slightly less than the lowest band, an inverted pattern worth flagging. Low-income families face nearly $96K in four-year out-of-pocket cost, an impossible math problem against $42K median earnings.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48K-$75K band pays $24,501 and the $75K-$110K band climbs to $28,074. Middle-income families take on roughly $98K-$112K in four-year out-of-pocket cost. There is essentially no major mix on offer that justifies this against $42K earnings 10 years out. The financial case fails across the board.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110K pay $27,219 net - actually less than the $75K-$110K band, another inversion. For high-income families, the financial argument simply doesn't exist; this is a values purchase. Students whose families can pay close to sticker out of cash will avoid debt but still face the opportunity cost of an institution where median graduate earnings barely clear high-school levels.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Oakwood University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $55,834 | F |
| Human Resources Management | $62,069 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Human Resources Management
Human Resources is the strongest reported program with $62,069 four-year earnings, though debt of $35,500 produces a 0.572 D/E ratio and only a C grade. With just 4 graduates the sample is too small to draw firm conclusions, but it represents one of the only Oakwood paths where post-graduation earnings clear payment thresholds comfortably.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts is Oakwood's largest reported program with 25 graduates and one of the worst outcomes in our database: $30,724 first-year earnings against $51,250 debt - a 1.668 debt-to-earnings ratio earning an F grade. Graduates owe nearly $1.67 for every dollar of annual income. This represents financial harm at scale and is a program prospective students should approach with extreme caution.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 35.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 46.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 34.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 37.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 45.2% |
| Enrollment | 1,153 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 44.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,513 |
Oakwood admits 45.2% of applicants - notably selective for a small religious HBCU. The university does not report SAT or ACT mid-ranges in current Scorecard data, consistent with test-optional policies common at faith-based institutions. The 44.6% completion rate sits below what the selective admit rate would predict, suggesting financial pressure and persistence challenges that aren't fully captured by admit metrics.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among named peers, Oakwood's 14 ROI sits at the bottom of an already-struggling cohort. Dillard University and Huston-Tillotson, both private HBCUs, post slightly higher scores driven by stronger graduate-school placement. Faulkner University and Huntingdon College, both Alabama private religious schools, score similarly to Oakwood with comparable cost-vs-earnings mismatches. Johnson C. Smith University in North Carolina has nearly identical ROI dynamics. The peer set confirms Oakwood's struggles are typical of small faith-based HBCUs - structurally high cost meeting low post-graduation earnings.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakwood University (this school) | 14 | $25,669 | $42,488 |
| Albany State University | 14 | $11,898 | $40,674 |
| Clark Atlanta University | 14 | $37,702 | $42,712 |
| Jackson State University | 14 | $23,836 | $39,060 |
| Wilberforce University | 14 | $5,567 | $38,298 |
| Fisk University | 14 | $32,020 | $45,454 |
Who Thrives Here
Oakwood fits Seventh-day Adventist students seeking a faith-integrated education, particularly those willing to accept weaker financial outcomes in exchange for religious community. With 44.4% Pell rate and 1,153 students, the campus is intimate but resource-constrained (avgFacultySalary of $5,513 is the lowest in our database, reflecting the school's financial limits). Students should view this as a values choice, not a financial one. Strong fit only for committed Adventist students; weak fit for anyone optimizing for earnings or graduate-school placement.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Oakwood University. With a net cost of $25,669 per year and median graduate earnings of only $42,488 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 32.4 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 44.6% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 against $42,488 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.