Oakland University
#1 Best Nursing Colleges in Michigan- Graduation Rate
- 57% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $58,612 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $9,120 B+
- 47% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 88% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 40.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $40.0 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Nursing Colleges in Michigan.
Every $1 spent returns $40.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,423,665.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Earnings 44% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $40.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.4%
- Top 50%
- Patents
- 66
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #601-800
- Times Higher Education
- Patent Citations
- 117
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 12/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Oakland University Matters
Oakland University is a public research university in Rochester Hills, MI ranked #601-800 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 12,351
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Engineering, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Oakland University
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
Accessible — admits about 88% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1030–1230. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $9,120 a year after grants and scholarships — 47% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $58,612 ten years after enrolling — 44% above the typical college, against $22,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 70% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.54 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 12,000 students, Oakland University is a great fit for those looking for a welcoming environment with a solid variety of programs. It stands out for its strong focus on Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Engineering, Psychology, and Education. Students here can expect a supportive community that values diverse pathways to success, making it a good choice for those who want to explore different fields before settling on a major.
After graduation, students from Oakland University can anticipate an average earning of about $58,612 after ten years. This figure gives a clear picture of the financial benefits of their education. When we consider the affordability of attending, the net price after aid is around $9,120, which is manageable for many families. This balance between cost and earnings suggests that students who take advantage of the resources available can find themselves in a stable position post-graduation.
When it comes to financial load, the median debt for graduates stands at $22,750, which is relatively low compared to many other institutions. Those who thrive here tend to be proactive and engaged, whether they’re involved in campus activities or internships related to their field of study. The combination of a supportive community, a range of programs to choose from, and reasonable financial expectations can really set students up for a successful future.
Rankings
- #1 Best Nursing Colleges in Michigan
- #4 Colleges Getting More Accessible Over Time
- #6 Best Online Colleges in Michigan
- #6 Best Computer Science Colleges in Michigan
- #6 Best Engineering Colleges in Michigan
- #6 Best Education Colleges in Michigan
- #6 Best Data Science Colleges in Michigan
- #7 Best Colleges in Michigan
Can I Get In?
How selective Oakland University 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 University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Oakland University, located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 88%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,120. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- SAT Average
- 1120
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 1030–1230
- Full-Time Faculty
- 54%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,527
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.50
- First-Gen Students
- 32%
- Applicants
- 11,110
- Admitted
- 10,005
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 University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Oakland University is $23,188, 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 $9,120. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,422 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $15,262
- Out-of-State
- $23,188
- Avg Net Price
- $9,120
- Median Debt
- $22,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 37%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,422
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,560
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,711
- Family Income $110K+
- $19,217
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 University — 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 University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Oakland University earn a median of $58,612, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,017
- 8 Years
- $53,392
- 10 Years
- $58,612
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.39x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (753)
- 31%
- 100% (753)
- 31%
- 100% (753)
- 31%
- 100% (753)
- 31%
Where Grads Go
Top employers of Oakland University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
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 University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Oakland University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,120/year ($36,480 total). Graduates earn $58,612 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,460,145 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,423,665 (40.0× your investment). The median debt is $22,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 57% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $36,480
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,460,145
- Net Return
- $1,423,665
- ROI Multiple
- 40.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,120
- Median Debt
- $22,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 57%
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 University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Oakland University 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 1.10%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $110,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.10%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 21.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $150,267
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Oakland University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 66 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 12/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.45%
- Top 50% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 66
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 117
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 12/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 22/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 30/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-32,423,004
Top Programs
The fields Oakland University 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.
- Health Professions 25% $73,051 early-career
- Business & Marketing 16% $71,270 early-career
- Engineering 10% $93,259 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $81,159 early-career
- Psychology 6% $33,243 early-career
- Humanities 5% $35,271 early-career
- Education 5% $44,467 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $44,467 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 University'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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Oakland University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Oakland University, located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 88%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,120. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Oakland University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Oakland University is $23,188, 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 $9,120. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,422 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,750 in federal student loans.
Is Oakland University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Oakland University earn a median of $58,612, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Oakland University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Oakland University 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 1.10%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $110,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Oakland University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Oakland University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.54, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Oakland University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Oakland University at #601-800 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 12/100, teaching at 18/100, and citation impact of 22/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Oakland University.
- California State University-Dominguez HillsCarson, CA · Close peer45% grad $57,162 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Portland State UniversityPortland, OR · Close peer53% grad $57,906 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI · Close peer58% grad $53,562 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Minnesota State University-MankatoMankato, MN · Close peer54% grad $56,922 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-San MarcosSan Marcos, CA · Close peer54% grad $62,908 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI · Close peer63% grad $57,624 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Oakland University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Oakland University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.54, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note