Oakland University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It enrolls 12,351 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
76/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes51
Value96
Affordability71
Selectivity37
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 87.8%, Oakland University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
87.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1030 – 1230
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Oakland University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
12.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Oakland University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,120 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,120
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
37%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$15,262
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$23,188
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,932
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,504
Books & Supplies
$700
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,548
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,182
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$4,422
$30,001 – $48,000
$4,560
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,711
$75,001 – $110,000
$11,874
Over $110,000
$19,217
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,04910%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$22,750Medianpercentile
$28,00075%percentile
$38,32690%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,500
↓ $4,250
No Pell $14,484
↓ $8,266
Dependent students $16,240
↓ $6,510
Independent students $18,750
↓ $4,000
Female students $16,750
↓ $6,000
Male students $16,750
↓ $6,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,298, less than completers ($22,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
57% of full-time students who enrolled at Oakland University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
57%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Oakland University earn a median of $58,612 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,612
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$42,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$45,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,700, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Oakland University is home to 12,351 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 32% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
12,351
Part-Time
18%
First-Generation
32%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 69.1%8,530
Black 10.2%1,262
Hispanic 6.1%757
Asian 6.0%739
Other 4.5%557
International 1.9%232
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Oakland University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbRochester Hills, Michigan
Housing
Partly residential3,000 beds available
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Oakland University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
128 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Oakland University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,057
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$137M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$91,107
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
614 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
157
26%
$114,701
Associate Professors
250
41%
$90,192
Assistant Professors
127
21%
$76,479
Instructors
80
13%
$72,199
Pros & Cons of Oakland University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Oakland University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Oakland University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about Oakland University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Oakland University.
Is Oakland University hard to get into?
Oakland University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 87.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Oakland University?
Oakland University has an acceptance rate of 87.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Oakland University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Oakland University scored between 1030 and 1230 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Oakland University cost?
The average net price after aid at Oakland University is $9,120 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Oakland University worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,612 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,120 per year. That's roughly 6.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Oakland University known for?
Oakland University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Psychology, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Oakland University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Oakland University are $58,612, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Oakland University accredited?
Yes. Oakland University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Oakland University?
Oakland University enrolls 12,351 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Oakland University?
Oakland University graduates 57% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Oakland University a public or private college?
Oakland University is a Public institution.
Where is Oakland University located?
Oakland University is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
What programs does Oakland University offer?
Oakland University offers 128 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Psychology, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Oakland University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Oakland University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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