Oakwood University

Oakwood University is a private, historically Black university in Huntsville, Alabama, affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Founded in 1896, it is the only historically Black college or university owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Oakwood offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees across disciplines such as the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing, and religion. The university integrates faith-based learning with professional preparation and community service. Its suburban campus in north Alabama attracts students seeking a Christian educational environment with a strong tradition of music, ministry, health professions, and leadership development within the Adventist and broader African American communities.

Oakwood University was founded in 1896 in Huntsville, Alabama, by the Seventh-day Adventist Church to provide education for formerly enslaved African Americans in the post–Civil War South. Originally named Oakwood Industrial School, it emphasized vocational training and Christian instruction, with students working on campus to help cover expenses. In the early twentieth century, the institution evolved through several name changes, becoming Oakwood Junior College in 1917 and later Oakwood College. James Irving Beardsley was appointed the first president in 1917, marking a shift toward a more formal collegiate structure. Oakwood University awarded its first four-year degrees in 1945 and gained regional accreditation in 1958. Enrollment expanded steadily in the late twentieth century, and in 2008 the institution was officially renamed Oakwood University, reflecting its growth in academic programs and graduate offerings.