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Oakland University
Admission at Oakland University is close to open (87.8%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $58,612 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Oakland University occupies suburban Rochester Hills, MI — a public campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat.
Its highest-earning path is Industrial Engineering, where graduates median $102,222 four years out. 32% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 12,351 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 77.9% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 995 and 1185 — near the MI middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Oakland University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Oakland University received 12,398 applications and admitted 8,708 (70.2%), with 2,236 enrolling.
You can apply to Oakland University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 995 and 1185; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 520 | 570 | 620 |
| SAT Math | 475 | 540 | 565 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Oakland University compares
| Oakland University | Michigan median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 87.8% | 79.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $15,262 | $24,944 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $58,612 | $54,739 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Oakland University: $58,612 median at year ten, versus $54,739 across Michigan institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $15,262 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $23,188. For non-residents, Oakland University's $23,188 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 12,351 undergrads, Oakland University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
57.6% graduate within six years. Roughly 42% don't — ask a Oakland University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Oakland University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Industrial Engineering | $102,222 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $99,967 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $97,444 |
| Computer Engineering | $95,843 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $90,737 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $88,497 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $87,119 |
| Public Health | $85,266 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $84,052 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $82,699 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $81,667 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $79,127 |
| Economics | $71,874 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $70,486 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $70,347 |
| Marketing | $69,448 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $68,496 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $63,925 |
| Homeland Security | $63,858 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $63,534 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $60,027 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $59,922 |
| Mathematics | $57,531 |
| Biology, General | $55,991 |
| Social Work | $55,754 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,662 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $54,767 |
| Political Science and Government | $51,129 |
| History | $48,990 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $48,396 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | $48,323 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $48,101 |
| Sociology | $47,873 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $47,432 |
| Journalism | $46,680 |
| Anthropology | $46,628 |
| Psychology, General | $45,141 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,270 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $43,186 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $41,443 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $39,442 |
Median earnings for these 41 Oakland University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $58,612 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 33 additional Oakland University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Oakland University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 995–1185 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 87.8% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Oakland University's acceptance rate?
70.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 8,708 admitted from 12,398 applicants.
How much does Oakland University cost?
In-state tuition is $15,262; out-of-state students pay $23,188. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Oakland University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $58,612 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Michigan
- Michigan Technological University — 92.4% admitted
- Sacred Heart Major Seminary — 100% admitted
- Rochester Christian University — 97.7% admitted
- Grace Christian University — 99.2% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.