Navigating Admission to Oakland University: GPA Requirements and Beyond

Oakland University (OU) cultivates the full potential of a diverse and inclusive community. For prospective undergraduate students, understanding the university's admission requirements, particularly the GPA expectations, is crucial. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Oakland University's GPA requirements for various student categories, including freshmen, transfer students, and those with non-traditional academic backgrounds.

GPA Requirements for Freshmen Applicants

Oakland University considers an applicant’s academic background, including high school academic achievement, educational goals and potential for success. Normally, Oakland University will admit students with cumulative high school grade point averages of 3.20 or above in academic subjects. Applicants with cumulative grade point averages below 3.20 but above 2.50 may be admitted after consideration of the quality of their academic preparation. In some cases, a personal interview may be requested.

Academic Preparation

Candidates for admission to undergraduate degree programs should have completed high school-level college preparatory work or otherwise demonstrate sufficient academic preparation to begin college work. The university normally expects high school courses to include at a minimum:

Four years of English language arts
Three years of mathematics
Three years of science
Three years of social studies
Two years of foreign language

Students planning majors in the sciences, mathematics, engineering, or business are expected to present at least four years of preparation in math, including algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Entering freshmen planning to major in engineering or computer science should have taken at least four years of high school mathematics courses (maintaining a 3.00 or B average) as well as courses in chemistry and physics and have a solid background in English language arts. Computer-aided design and machine shop courses are useful, but not necessary.

Assured Admission Pact

As part of the Michigan Assured Admission Pact (MAAP), Oakland University will offer admission to all Michigan high school graduates who have earned a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale). This applies to students who are applying for admission for the first fall semester following their high school graduation.

Homeschooled Students

Oakland University welcomes home-schooled students to its campus. Home-schooled students applying for admission need to supply a transcript and meet regular admissions requirements. Students who are homeschooled will also need to have earned a minimum 2.5 cumulative high school GPA to be considered for admission.

GED Students

GED students applying for admission to Oakland University must be at least 18 years old and have a GED score of at least 165 in each subject area (for a total score of 660 or higher). If you earned the GED prior to January 1, 2014, you may gain admission with a score of 55 or 550, depending on the test scoring system in place at that time. Please have your official GED score sent to Undergraduate Admissions when applying for admission.

Standardized Tests

Students are not precluded from taking standardized tests (SAT or ACT) and sending scores if they are able.

The average GPA at Oakland University is 3.48, which requires you to be around average in your high school class. You'll need a mix of A's and B's, and very few C's.

Oakland University hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Oakland University will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students.

The 25th percentile SAT score is 920, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1160. The average ACT score at Oakland University is 25. The 25th percentile ACT score is 21, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 29.

Aim for a 920 SAT or a 21 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission.

GPA Requirements for Transfer Students

Transfer students may enter Oakland University at any time, and must complete the university online application. Transfer students with a minimum of 24 college credits at the time of application, and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5, will be considered for admission to Oakland University. OU also will consider positive trends of most recent grades. To be considered for transfer admission, students must submit an online application and send official transcripts of course-work taken at all universities or colleges attended to Oakland University.

Transfer Credits

As an incoming OU student, you may transfer up to half of the minimum credits required for your intended degree from a community college. OU accepts transfer credit from all regionally accredited institutions and some non-regionally accredited institutions. All students transferring to OU must earn at least 45 credits at Oakland University to complete a bachelor’s program. After you are admitted, you will receive an official transfer credit evaluation. All coursework completed with a 2.0 (or equivalent) or better grade is evaluated. You may use transferred courses for general education and major requirements. Academic departments will review transcripts for credits to be used toward major requirements by the end of your first semester at OU. OU participates in several community college transfer agreements, including the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA).

Additional Requirements for Transfer Students with Fewer Than 24 Credits

Transfer students who earned fewer than 24 semester hours of credit must also submit high school transcripts, and must meet admission standards which are applied to entering freshmen.

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Admission for Students with Interrupted Education or Non-Traditional Backgrounds

Admission of individuals whose formal education has been interrupted for three or more years, and who would not normally meet other admission criteria, may be considered based on one or more of the following:

Sustained employment record
Recommendations from employers, educators, and other professionals
Standardized test results

Additional Admission Pathways

Dual Enrollment

Specially qualified high school students may be permitted to enroll in classes on a part-time, non-matriculating basis. Students who have exhausted their high school curriculum and wish to pursue course-work at Oakland University must complete the Dual Enrollment application. This form requires the signatures of a parent/guardian and a school counselor or principal. A copy of the student’s current transcript must accompany the Dual Enrollment application. High school students wishing to attend Oakland University must have a 3.00 cumulative grade point average and have a minimum of junior standing. Admission is valid for one academic year provided the student earns at least a 2.0 in each course completed. Students wishing to take subsequent courses must reapply each academic year.

Guest Admission

Students enrolled in good standing at accredited Michigan colleges and universities may apply for guest admission by filing the Michigan Uniform Undergraduate Guest Application form, which is available online or from the registrar’s office at their home institution. This form should be submitted to Undergraduate Admissions well before the beginning of each semester students plan to attend as guests.

Non-Matriculating Status

Applicants who wish to enroll in undergraduate courses but do not wish to be admitted to an undergraduate program may request non-matriculating status. Non-matriculating status may be provided to students with permission from Undergraduate Admissions. Students admitted with non-matriculating status are limited to earning 12 credits in that status, and must secure traditional admission to the university in order to be eligible to register thereafter. To later be considered for traditional admission, non-matriculating students need to submit an online application and forward transcripts from all prior colleges and universities attended. Non-matriculating students will receive full academic credit for courses that they successfully complete.

Post-Baccalaureate Status

Post-baccalaureate (PB) status indicates that students hold a bachelor’s or higher degree and wish to enter college for the purpose of pursuing undergraduate classes. Under PB status, admission is as a special, non-degree candidate, and previous academic work will not be evaluated by Oakland University’s Registrar. Tuition for PB status will be assessed at undergraduate upper division rates.

Second Degree Status

Second degree status indicates that students currently hold a bachelor’s degree but wish to earn a second undergraduate degree with a different major. Each academic department determines the specific admission criteria for second-degree students.

Readmission

Readmission applies to students who previously enrolled at Oakland University and whose attendance was interrupted. Any student who has been academically dismissed from the university for insufficient academic progress at the end of their previously enrolled semester/session. All other undergraduate students may return and register for classes without seeking formal readmission. Readmission to the university is not automatic for students dismissed because of poor academic performance. An application for a first readmission by a student who has been dismissed for insufficient academic progress is reviewed by the university’s Readmission Committee. Decisions about readmission are made on a case-by-case basis involving review of the student’s file.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Oakland University offers a quality education at a great value, with no added fees. To help you financially, OU offers payment plans, breaking up your semester tuition into small payments. More than 50 percent of students receive financial aid though loans, grants and work-study, worth more than $175 million annually. To be eligible for fall semester and merit-based scholarships, submit all required materials by March 1. Scholarships are awarded based on academic record, GPA, SAT, ACT, ect., at the time of admission.

To be considered for merit scholarships, Oakland University typically must receive your admission application, transcript and SAT or ACT score (if applicable) by the priority deadline of March 1 for fall, December 1 for winter and July 1 for summer. You will automatically be considered for OU scholarships, and awards are based on your academic record, including GPA and SAT or ACT score (if applicable), at the time of admission (test superscores are not considered at this time). You may also submit updated transcripts and/or test scores for scholarship reconsideration. International students are not eligible for OU scholarships, except where reflected. The total amount of Oakland University institutional awards and tuition waiver benefits cannot exceed the cost of tuition. Students may only receive one academic merit scholarship (except for the Non-Resident Award, if applicable).

To be considered for need-based grants, entering first-year students who are Michigan residents must complete the FAFSA and fulfill all financial aid requirements by the priority deadline of March 1 for fall, December 1 for winter and July 1 for summer. Entering first-year Michigan residents who have financial need as determined by the completion of the FAFSA will automatically be considered for OU grants. A combination of Oakland University institutional awards and tuition waiver benefits cannot exceed the cost of tuition (the OU Housing Grant and OU departmental and endowed awards are not included in this limitation of OU awards and benefits). Financial awards from all sources cannot exceed financial need and/or the cost of attendance.

Eligible incoming transfer students who have financial need (as determined by completion of the FAFSA) and fulfill all financial aid requirements by December 1 for winter, July 1 for summer or August 1 for fall, will automatically be considered for OU need-based grants.

Resources for Prospective Students

Undergraduate Admissions, located in North Foundation Hall, Room 101, provides support and services to prospective and admitted undergraduate students and their families through recruitment activities and on-campus programming, including Discover OU, Go for the Gold, Transfer Student Open House, College Credit Advising Days, Transfer Tuesdays, welcome receptions, college readiness events, academic visit days and campus tours.

Oakland University hosts free events for transfer students throughout the year, including Transfer Tuesdays (twice a month) and Transfer Open Houses (four times a year). All events enable you to meet with admissions advisers. If you attend an Open House, you can get an immediate admission decision.

If you’d like an immediate, unofficial assessment of your transfer credits, use our Transfer Equivalency Self-Service tool. You may also use our Transfer Guides, Articulation Agreements, MI Pathways and other transfer credit resources.

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