The Ultimate Guide to Oakland University
Oakland University is a major public university located in Rochester, Michigan, a northern suburb of Detroit. It was founded in 1957 as part of Michigan State University, but has been completely independent since 1970. OU sits on a beautiful 1,500-acre campus and includes the world-famous Meadowbrook Hall which was donated with the land by the Dodge family, and the Meadowbrook Music Festival, which is a major outdoor concert venue and pavilion. Additionally, there are miles of hiking and biking trails and two nationally ranked golf courses on campus grounds to offer something for everyone.
Oakland University currently has about 18,000 students enrolled in one of its 120 undergraduate programs, or one of its 100 graduate and certificate programs, including its 18 doctoral programs. It has been classified as a Doctoral/Research University by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Plans have recently been made to open Michigan’s fourth Medical School in an impressive partnership with the world-renowned William Beaumont Hospital. The School of Medicine is expected to be open and operational in 2010. Oakland University is also home to many major research centers, including the Center for Biomedical Research, the Center for Advanced Robotics and Automation, the Institute for Eye Research, and the Center for OU Autism Research, Education and Support.
In athletics, Oakland University’s teams are known as the Golden Grizzlies, and the school has 16 NCAA Division I teams. The men’s basketball team recently made a trip to the vaunted NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament, where they won their opener before losing to the eventual national champion North Carolina Tar Heels. Oakland University’s school colors are black and gold, and their mascot’s name is Grizz. The school is relatively new to division I, having competed in the Division II GLIAC until 1998. During their Division II years, they called themselves the Pioneers and won several National Championships in swimming.
Some notable Oakland University alumni include David Hasselhoff, Robert Englund, the actor made famous for his portrayal of Freddie Kruger, and many Michigan senators, representatives, and mayors. The lack of famous names on the list of notable alumni is due to the University’s short history, but many highly respected researchers in their fields have OU degrees and in the years to come their research will likely make some of them household names. , thus increasing the prestige of the university.
Overall, Oakland University is a wonderful choice for education due to its high-quality education and comparatively low cost, its beautiful campus located in one of the safest cities in the United States, and its diverse student body. You can take advantage of an affordable degree from a university that will continue to gain prestige over time, thus increasing the value of your degree over the years.