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Is Oakland University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Oakland, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Oakland lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $22,750 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $58,612, but the margin is not huge. For context, Oakland's net price runs about 20% above the typical 4-year, public school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$15,734
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $2,580 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $10,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$9,120
Median earnings 10 years out
$58,612
Median debt at graduation
$22,750
Graduation rate
57%
At Oakland, a typical graduate carries about $22,750 in student debt and earns roughly $58,612 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $259 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Oakland is a public four year school in Rochester Hills, MI. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI
Worth-It Score: 70/100
Median net price: $9,492
Public 4-year
Ferris State
Big Rapids, MI
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $8,624
Public 4-year
Saginaw Valley State
University Center, MI
Worth-It Score: 65/100
Median net price: $10,775
Public 4-year
Wayne State
Detroit, MI
Worth-It Score: 68/100
Median net price: $12,766
Public 4-year
Lake Superior State
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Worth-It Score: 66/100
Median net price: $12,822
Common questions about Oakland
The median net price at Oakland is $9,120 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Michigan? See the most affordable public universities in Michigan →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →