Oakland Community College
#6 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Michigan- Graduation Rate
- 19% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $37,395 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $5,777 A
- 66% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 12,748
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 43.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $43.2 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Michigan.
Every $1 spent returns $43.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $974,173.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 19% — 66% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $43.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.1%
- Top 89%
- Patents
- 32
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 343
- Downstream influence
Why Oakland Community College Matters
Oakland Community College is a public community college in Auburn Hills, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 12,748
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Oakland Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $5,777 a year after grants and scholarships — 66% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $37,395 ten years after enrolling — 8% below the typical college, against $9,105 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 86% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.02 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 12,700 students, Oakland Community College serves as a solid choice for those looking to begin or advance their education in fields like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, or Computer Science and IT. The college's focus on practical skills and career readiness can be particularly appealing to students who want to enter the workforce quickly or those seeking a stepping stone to a four-year degree.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $37,395 within ten years. This figure puts students in a decent position to repay any loans while also building a career. The affordability of attending Oakland Community College is a significant plus, especially with a net price of about $5,777 after aid. This financial accessibility can help ease the burden of student debt and make a real difference in a graduate's financial journey.
On the practical side, the median debt for students who borrow is $9,105, which is relatively manageable considering the earnings potential after graduation. The college attracts a diverse range of students, including those from lower-income backgrounds, with 31% receiving Pell Grants. This mix suggests that those who thrive here are often motivated individuals looking to improve their life circumstances through education.
Rankings
- #6 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Michigan
- #12 Most Affordable Colleges in Michigan
- #17 Best Engineering Colleges in Michigan
- #20 Best Computer Science Colleges in Michigan
- #20 Best Data Science Colleges in Michigan
- #26 Best Online Colleges in Michigan
- #29 Best Colleges in Michigan
- #34 Best Nursing Colleges in Michigan
Can I Get In?
How selective Oakland Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Oakland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Oakland Community College, located in Auburn Hills, Michigan, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 19%.
- Retention Rate
- 56%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,471
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 24:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 43%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Oakland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Oakland Community College is $5,560, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $5,777. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,590 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,105 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,020
- Out-of-State
- $5,560
- Avg Net Price
- $5,777
- Median Debt
- $9,105
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 16%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,590
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,325
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,232
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,314
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Oakland Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Oakland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Oakland Community College report median earnings of $37,395, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $29,877
- 8 Years
- $32,401
- 10 Years
- $37,395
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 47%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (66)
- 7%
- 100% (66)
- 7%
- 100% (66)
- 7%
- 100% (66)
- 7%
How Oakland Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Oakland Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Oakland Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,777/year ($23,108 total). Graduates earn $37,395 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $997,281 in total earnings — a net gain of $974,173 (43.2× your investment). The median debt is $9,105, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 19% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $23,108
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $997,281
- Net Return
- $974,173
- ROI Multiple
- 43.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,777
- Median Debt
- $9,105
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 19%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Oakland Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Oakland Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.83%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 7.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $93,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.83%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 10.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $126,898
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Oakland Community College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 32 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.14%
- Top 89% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 32
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 343
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.07%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,657,334
- Federal Grants
- $3,281,474
- Investment Income
- $-23,076,281
Top Programs
The fields Oakland Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 38%
- Health Professions 13% $66,317 early-career
- Business & Marketing 11% $31,903 early-career
- Criminal Justice 9% $52,040 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 4% $35,271 early-career
- Engineering 3%
- Communications 2%
- Legal Studies 2% $40,365 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Oakland Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Oakland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Oakland Community College, located in Auburn Hills, Michigan, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 19%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Oakland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Oakland Community College is $5,560, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $5,777. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,590 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,105 in federal student loans.
Is Oakland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Oakland Community College report median earnings of $37,395, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Oakland Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Oakland Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.83%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 7.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $93,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Oakland Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Oakland Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.02, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.13). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Oakland Community College.
- Grossmont CollegeEl Cajon, CA · Close peer34% grad $40,309 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids, MI · Close peer20% grad $38,377 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lansing Community CollegeLansing, MI · Close peer24% grad $39,206 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- San Diego City CollegeSan Diego, CA · Close peer28% grad $38,503 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Metropolitan Community College AreaOmaha, NE · Close peer27% grad $38,773 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Tulsa Community CollegeTulsa, OK · Close peer28% grad $39,746 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Oakland Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Oakland Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.02, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.13). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note