Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Oakland University graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their early to mid-career progression. Median earnings begin at $49,017 six years after enrollment, advance to $53,392 at eight years, and reach $58,612 at ten years, representing 19.6% growth from the six-year benchmark.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $22,750 in debt with typical earnings.
Oakland University graduates carry median debt of $22,750, positioned around the national average with a debt percentile ranking of 51.0. Debt levels range from $7,500 at the 25th percentile to $28,000 at the 75th percentile, showing moderate variation in borrowing patterns among students.
Oakland University demonstrates above average return on educational investment, ranking at the 74.7th percentile nationally for overall return performance. Graduates earn $4,609 beyond expectations compared to similar students, placing the institution at the 72.6th percentile for earnings uplift relative to student demographics and program mix.
Approximately 24.7% of Oakland University graduates continue to graduate or professional study, based on high-confidence program mix analysis. This c...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Oakland University's strongest earnings outcomes concentrate in engineering and technology programs, with Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduates earning $91,496 and Mechanical Engineering graduates earning $89,376. Artificial Intelligence graduates earn $87,350, reflecting emerging technology sector demand.
Business programs also perform well, with Business Administration graduates earning $81,070 and Banking and Financial Support Services graduates earning $78,839. Healthcare programs provide solid middle-tier outcomes, with Adult Health Nursing graduates earning $68,205 across the institution's largest program enrollment.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Oakland University's earnings distribution shows meaningful variation reflecting diverse program outcomes and career pathways. The gap between 25th percentile earnings of $36,515 and 75th percentile earnings of $84,827 creates a 2.3:1 ratio, indicating substantial differences in post-graduation financial outcomes.
