The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education categorizes Oakland University as a "Doctoral/Research University." Produced by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the classification reflects OU's strong commitment to graduate education through its doctoral programs as well as its extensive undergraduate programs. Oakland University offers students opportunities to work directly on research projects with expert faculty who bring current knowledge right to the classroom.

This classification places OU among other public and private institutions such as San Diego State University, Pepperdine University, DePaul University, Ball State University, Dartmouth College, Hofstra University, Wake Forest University, Baylor University, George Mason University, the University of San Diego, University of Colorado at Denver, University of Maryland-Baltimore, University of Massachusetts-Boston, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and College of William and Mary.

Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1905 and chartered in 1906 by an Act of Congress, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is an independent policy and research center whose charge is "to do and perform all things necessary to encourage, uphold, and dignify the profession of the teacher and the cause of higher education." The foundation is a major national and international center for research and policy studies about teaching.