“Public research university in metro Detroit offering 250+ degree programs across eight schools.”
Oakland University is a public doctoral research university located on a 1,443-acre campus straddling Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills in suburban Oakland County, Michigan — about 25 miles north of downtown Detroit. Founded in 1957 as Michigan State University-Oakland on land donated by Matilda Dodge Wilson (of the Dodge automotive family) and chartered as an independent university in 1970, Oakland today enrolls roughly 17,000 students across seven academic units: the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Business Administration, Education and Human Services, Engineering and Computer Science, Health Sciences, Nursing, and the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. It is classified by Carnegie as an R2 high-research university and holds an Honors College for academically advanced undergraduates. Academic strengths span engineering, nursing, health sciences, business, and pre-med pathways. The School of Engineering and Computer Science is closely tied to the Michigan automotive and advanced-manufacturing corridor, with programs in Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Systems, and Industrial & Systems Engineering, plus highly subscribed Computer Science and Cybersecurity tracks. The School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences partner with Corewell Health (formerly Beaumont Health) for extensive clinical placements, and Oakland's undergraduate business programs are AACSB-accredited with a strongly ranked Online MBA. The Honors College, an Undergraduate Research program, and the Schaap Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship give ambitious students routes into faculty-led projects from freshman year. For international students, Oakland offers one of the most accessible four-year U.S. pathways in the Midwest: the Office of International Students and Scholars issues I-20s, runs dedicated orientation, and coordinates with the ESL Institute for bridge and conditional admission through the Global Achievement Pathways Program (GAPP) for applicants whose TOEFL is between 62 and 78. Canadian and Mexican nationals qualify automatically for the Non-Resident Award, which reduces tuition to the in-state rate. The Grizzlies NCAA Division I sports program (Horizon League), 250+ student organizations, and a proximity to Detroit employers including Stellantis, GM, Ford, Magna, and Corewell Health make Oakland a practical choice for work-focused international students seeking CPT/OPT pathways into the Michigan economy.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Top Public Schools
US News 2026
International Student Enrollment (F-1)
DHS SEVIS by the Numbers (2024)
Research Activity
Carnegie Classifications (2021)
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceFall Scholarship Priority
Domestic merit-scholarship priority deadline for Fall.
Fall (International)
International application deadline for Fall semester entry.
Winter (International)
International application deadline for Winter semester entry.
Summer (International)
International application deadline for Summer semester entry.
Rolling Admission (Domestic)
Domestic applicants may apply on a rolling basis up to the start of the semester.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$15,262
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$23,188
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
4 years
Oakland's BSN is one of the largest in Michigan by enrollment. Clinical placements across Corewell Health hospitals give students hands-on experience in one of the region's largest health systems from the sophomore year onward.
4 years
Designated by the NSA/DHS as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. Strong pipeline into federal cybersecurity roles and Michigan-based automotive cyber firms.
4 years
Located in the heart of Michigan's auto country, with direct co-op/internship pipelines to Stellantis, GM, Ford, Magna, Roush, and Lear. Popular concentrations include automotive/ICE, EV/AV systems, and aerospace.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $23,188
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
