Oakland University

Oakland University is a public research university located in Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills, Michigan. Founded in 1957, it operates on a 1,400-acre campus that includes the historic Meadow Brook Hall estate. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, including professional degrees in medicine through the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. Classified as a doctoral university with high research activity, Oakland University serves a diverse student body drawn to its suburban campus setting, strong regional ties in southeast Michigan, and academic programs in fields such as business, engineering, health sciences, education, and the arts.

Oakland University was founded in 1957 after Matilda Dodge Wilson and Alfred G. Wilson donated their Meadow Brook estate to Michigan State University to establish a new institution in Oakland County, Michigan. Initially named Michigan State University–Oakland, the university enrolled its first students in 1959. In 1963, it was renamed Oakland University, and in 1970 it became officially independent from Michigan State University. Located in what are now Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills, the campus developed around the historic Meadow Brook Hall. During the late twentieth century, Oakland University expanded its academic offerings, research activity, and campus facilities. A significant milestone came in 2011 with the establishment of the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. Over the decades, Oakland University has grown into a comprehensive public research institution serving southeast Michigan and beyond.