DrBanneker
Space is the Place
We last discussed Clinton College, the small SC junior college, which received an average score of 5.
See the updated leaderboard here
Today we look at another small private HBCU that punches above its weight. Oakwood University of Huntsville, AL is the only HBCU founded by and affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA). Established in 1896 by the SDA cofounder Ellen G. White, it was set up as a school to teach industrial skills and spiritual education to Blacks. In a very epic sense, its site was founded on the abandoned plantation that used to enslave Dred Scott and his family, of the famous Dred Scott v. Sanford Supreme Court Case (Justice Taney
). It evolved over time to become a liberal arts school but has kept a strong SDA affiliation and religious core. A couple years ago its basketball team forfeited a semifinal game since it was played on the Sabbath (which is Saturday for SDA).Oakwood is also similar to many of the top tier HBCUs in subtle ways. It has a relatively high graduation rate around 50%, a large number of affluent students (13% come from $100k or more households) and actually has the lowest number of first generation college students amongst all HBCUs including Spelman, Morehouse, and Hampton. Over 85% of its students are out of state coming from not just nearby Georgia and Florida but also Texas, California, and New York sending dozens of students. Whether this is due to word of mouth, a strong presence of educated SDA students, or another factor is unclear.
Also of note is that Oakwood has one of the strongest music training programs amongst HBCUs. Its choir, the Aeolians (see below) are world famous and not by accident it has many famous musical alumni such as Little Richard, Brian McKnight, and members of the Gospel group Take 6 (including Brian McKnight's brother Claude).
Founded: 1896
City, State: Huntsville, AL
Type: 4-year, Private not-for-profit, Seven Day Adventist affiliated
Nickname: Ambassadors
Enrollment and percent Black enrollment: 1,452 (1,378 undergraduate), 92% Black
Part-time student percentage: 9%
First Generation Student Percentage: 18%
Percentage of students from households under $30k/over $100k: 43% / 13%
Out of State Percentage: 85% (top states: Alabama, Georgia, Florida, New York, Texas, California, Tennessee, Michigan)
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Admissions Acceptance Rate: 72%
4-yr/6-yr graduation rates: 27% / 49%
Transfer out rate: N/A
Male/Female percentages (Female:Male Ratio): 43% male/ 57% female (1.3:1)
Tuition: $20k
Median Federal Debt After Graduation: $27k
Median Parent PLUS Loans After Graduation: $25k
Median Earning 10-Years after 10 years from freshman year: $38k
Median Earnings for specific majors after 3 years after graduation:
N/A
Top Majors by Degrees:
Biology, Business, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Health Care Management, Religious Studies
Endowment: ~$15-20M
Alumni Engagement: N/A
Athletic Conference: Gulf Coast Atlantic Conferece (GCAC) - NAIA
Mascot: Ambassador (as a Spartan) but also has a lion on their logo
Notable Alumni:
Little Richard - Rock & Roll pioneer
Brian McKnight - R&B singer
Barry Black - former US Navy Chief Chaplain and former US Senate Chaplain
Main Campus
Oakwood Church
Lane Stadium (new soccer stadium)
The Aeolians
Drum Line
Oakwood Cheerleaders
Miss Oakwood University
Huntsville crew - @Chrishaune @Big Boss @Schadenfreude @Hathaway
@ab.aspectus @Originalman @#1 pick @Ziggiy @SupaVillain @Tug life @Idaeo @get these nets @MostReal @Bryan Danielson @Rollie Forbes @Willie Lump Lump @staticshock @Charlie Hustle @BigAggieLean. @Optimus Prime @How Sway? @DropTopDoc @Anerdyblackguy
Watch your self sir
