Urian Oakes (1631 – July 25, 1681) was an English-born American Congregational minister and educator who served as the fourth president of Harvard College.

Two years later a deputation, sent to England to find a minister for the vacant church of Cambridge, Massachusetts, chose Oakes.

Leonard Hoar became President of Harvard in 1672, but was disliked by many, including some of the governors, among them Oakes.

Calamy states that Oakes was noted for 'the uncommon sweetness of his temper,' and in New England he was greatly beloved by his congregation and popular with all who came in contact with him.

His extant writings are three sermons—two preached at the annual election of the artillery company in 1672 and 1676, and the third at the election of representatives in 1673—and a monody in English verse (Cambridge, 1677) on the death of Thomas Shepard, minister of the church in Charlestown.