Oakland City University

Oakland City University's published cost of attendance is $42,441. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $13,980, middle-income families pay around $13,637, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,550.

Azimuth ranks Oakland City University #190 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Oakland City University uses need-based aid to bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to support enrollment across income levels.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $16,758, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,197; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,090, median federal debt of $16,758 projects to a monthly payment of about $189 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Oakland City University earn median 4-year earnings of $57,090, placing Oakland City University in the 31.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Oakland City University sits in the 78.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Oakland City University #708 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect the institution's focus on Business and professional fields that connect directly to employment.

The earnings pattern centers on business and management disciplines. Business Administration is the largest program with 39 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $58,663, representing 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.

General Studies and Criminal Justice follow as substantial enrollment clusters, with Criminal Justice graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $62,595 — 1.1x the benchmark. Teacher Education and Biology, General round out the top five by cohort size.

The concentration in applied business and professional programs aligns with the institution's mission and supports consistent early-career outcomes for graduates entering the regional labor market.

Oakland City University's program mix centers on business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's focus on career-ready preparation. Business Administration is the largest program with 39 graduates annually, followed by General Studies, Criminal Justice, Teacher Education, and Biology, General.

Across 5 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength in applied business and professional disciplines. The institution's highest-earning programs reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings capture meaningful labor-market outcomes.

Criminal Justice leads with median earnings of $62,595 four years after enrollment across 10 graduates, while Business Administration delivers median earnings of $58,663 for 39 graduates. The concentration of Business — representing 39% of degree output — aligns with the institution's positioning as a professional and applied-career-focused private university.

This program-mix signature supports graduates entering stable occupational pathways where employer demand remains consistent and early-career earnings reflect immediate labor-market value. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Oakland City University's dominant program families align with regional and national workforce demand.

As a smaller institution graduating roughly 80 students annually across its portfolio, the university maintains focused program depth in fields where employers actively recruit and where four-year earnings outcomes reflect strong market positioning.