For low-income graduate [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Oakland University #146 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $68,708, placing Oakland University in the 72.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $10,843 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Oakland University in the 87.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Oakland University #188 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Oakland University's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern across earnings, affordability, and mobility — outcomes that hold up across the university's health-focused and professionally oriented degree programs. Students at Oakland University earn more than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that the university's program mix — anchored in health sciences and applied fields — translates into durable early-career financial returns.
Oakland University is a public university in Rochester Hills, MI, enrolling roughly 12,351 undergraduates. Retention stands at 77.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 57.6%. Azimuth ranks Oakland University #146 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. What anchors the composite is mobility. Oakland University sits in the 87.8 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds. 32.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.4% are first-generation college students — a broad-access enrollment profile reinforced by an admission rate of 87.8%. The dominant program family is Health, which channels graduates into stable, in-demand career pathways across MI's regional labor market. Affordability sits in the 86.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, and access sits in the 75.3 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite. Oakland University sits in the 78.6 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,843 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Oakland University in the 87.0 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median earnings four years after enrollment are $68,708, sitting below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions — though those earnings still represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $30,928 in MI.
Oakland University's published cost of attendance is $25,182, but need-based aid meaningfully reduces what most families pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $4,422, while middle-income families pay around $6,711, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,217. Azimuth ranks Oakland University #188 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 University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and merit-based scholarships. The university's public-tuition structure keeps headline costs lower than many private alternatives, and need-based aid further narrows the gap for qualifying families. Students and families are encouraged to compare the net price — not the sticker price — when evaluating affordability, since the net price illusion is one of the most common sources of confusion in college cost planning. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,858; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $68,708, median federal debt of $22,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $257 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Oakland University is a public university in Rochester Hills, MI, well suited to students drawn to health sciences, nursing, and applied professional fields who want a regional institution with a clear path to stable, in-demand careers. Graduates earn in the 72.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Oakland University sits in the 87.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $10,843 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that the institution's health-oriented program mix translates into real post-graduation value relative to similar students elsewhere. The access profile is broad. 32.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.4% are first-generation students, with a Pell completion rate of 53.3% — figures that reflect an institution built to serve cost-sensitive and first-generation families without sacrificing outcomes. Median student debt at graduation is $22,750, and the admission rate of 87.8% means Oakland University is accessible to most qualified applicants. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Health and adjacent applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking a broad research-university experience or highly specialized STEM programs may find a better match elsewhere.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Oakland University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Oakland University's published cost of attendance is $25,182, but need-based aid meaningfully reduces what most families pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $4,422, while middle-income families pay around $6,711, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,217.
Azimuth ranks Oakland University #188 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 University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and merit-based scholarships. The university's public-tuition structure keeps headline costs lower than many private alternatives, and need-based aid further narrows the gap for qualifying families.
Students and families are encouraged to compare the net price — not the sticker price — when evaluating affordability, since the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is one of the most common sources of confusion in college cost planning. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,858; 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 $68,708, median federal debt of $22,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $257 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 University earn median earnings of $68,708 four years after enrollment, placing Oakland University in the 72.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $10,843 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 87.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to MI's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.
The program mix at Oakland University is anchored in Health, which accounts for 17% of degrees awarded, followed by Engineering at 11% and Education at 4%. Nursing combines strong enrollment with solid earnings, making it a notable contributor to the institution's overall return profile.
Among the highest-earning programs, Azimuth ranks Nursing #131 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 520 graduates earning median earnings of $81,667 — 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other ranks #11 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions per the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 246 graduates earning median earnings of $54,767, and Psychology, General ranks #263 nationally with 198 graduates earning median earnings of $45,141.
Industrial Engineering
28 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
128 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
173 graduates
Computer Engineering
49 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
176 graduates
Oakland University's program mix is anchored in health professions, business, and applied sciences — a portfolio shaped by the university's role as a regional public institution serving southeastern Michigan's workforce needs. Business accounts for 17% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 11% and Education at 4%.
The concentration in health fields reflects strong local employer demand from hospital systems and clinical networks across the Detroit metro area. Nursing is the largest program with 520 graduates, followed by Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (246 graduates) and Psychology, General (198 graduates).
The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in health and applied-business fields. Azimuth ranks Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering #45 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $99,967.
Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering #55 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 173 graduates earning $97,444. Artificial Intelligence also delivers strong early-career pay — Azimuth ranks the program #90 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $90,737.
Among the most popular programs, Azimuth ranks Nursing #131 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $81,667, [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The health-heavy program mix means a meaningful share of Oakland University graduates enter local-labor career pathways — nursing, clinical support, and allied health roles where hiring is tied to regional hospital and health-system demand rather than national labor-market mobility.
Programs like Human Resources Management and Services and Artificial Intelligence serve different segments of the student body, with Human Resources Management and Services graduating 183 students and Artificial Intelligence graduating 176 students annually. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides broader context for how the institution's dominant health and business program families align with national hiring trends.
Across 58 programs serving roughly 3,573 students annually, 37 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a solid share that reflects the university's breadth across applied and professional fields.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kean University Similar quality tier (#4294 ranked) | NJ | 76% | $57,237 | #4294 | Compare |
Morgan State University Similar quality tier (#4289 ranked) | MD | 82% | $50,698 | #4289 | Compare |
Indiana University-Indianapolis Similar quality tier in Midwest (#4287 ranked) | IN | 76% | $55,198 | #4287 | Compare |
Metropolitan State University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#4299 ranked) | MN | 99% | $64,705 | #4299 | Compare |
North Carolina A & T State University Similar quality tier (#4301 ranked) | NC | 50% | $44,440 | #4301 | Compare |
