Oakland vs. USC Aiken

Deciding between Oakland University and University of South Carolina Aiken? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Oakland University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oakland Rochester Hills, MI
  • USC Aiken Aiken, SC
  • Setting
  • Oakland Large Suburban
  • USC Aiken Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Oakland 15,768
  • USC Aiken 4,022
  • Type
  • Oakland Public 4 Year
  • USC Aiken Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oakland #766
  • USC Aiken #819
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oakland -
  • USC Aiken -
  • Status
  • Oakland Non-profit
  • USC Aiken Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oakland
  • USC Aiken

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oakland $15,262
  • USC Aiken $10,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oakland $23,188
  • USC Aiken $21,218
  • Room & Board
  • Oakland $10,932
  • USC Aiken $9,182
  • Average Net Price
  • Oakland $12,208
  • USC Aiken $12,236
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oakland $12,988
  • USC Aiken $8,904
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oakland 94%
  • USC Aiken 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oakland 17,593
  • USC Aiken 3,005
  • Admitted
  • Oakland 15,454
  • USC Aiken 2,360
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oakland 87.8%
  • USC Aiken 78.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Oakland 14.7%
  • USC Aiken 28.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oakland 1130
  • USC Aiken 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oakland
  • USC Aiken 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oakland 3.51
  • USC Aiken 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oakland A-
  • USC Aiken B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oakland Moderate
  • USC Aiken Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oakland
  • USC Aiken
  • ACT Range
  • Oakland
  • USC Aiken 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • Oakland 1030/1230
  • USC Aiken 980/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oakland Test optional
  • USC Aiken Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Oakland
  • USC Aiken Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oakland 17:1
  • USC Aiken 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oakland
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • USC Aiken
    • Business (25%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oakland 40%
  • USC Aiken 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oakland $46,700
  • USC Aiken $39,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oakland 51%
  • USC Aiken 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oakland $25,000
  • USC Aiken $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oakland $258
  • USC Aiken $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oakland 42%
  • USC Aiken 38%
  • % Women
  • Oakland 58%
  • USC Aiken 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oakland Low
  • USC Aiken High
  • HBCU
  • Oakland No
  • USC Aiken No
  • % White
  • Oakland 76%
  • USC Aiken 58%
  • % Asian
  • Oakland 4%
  • USC Aiken 1%
  • % Black
  • Oakland 8%
  • USC Aiken 27%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oakland 3%
  • USC Aiken 4%
  • % Native American
  • Oakland 0%
  • USC Aiken 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oakland 0%
  • USC Aiken 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oakland 3%
  • USC Aiken 4%
  • % International
  • Oakland 2%
  • USC Aiken 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oakland 4%
  • USC Aiken 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oakland 96%
  • USC Aiken 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oakland 2%
  • USC Aiken 10%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Oakland Yes
  • USC Aiken Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Oakland No
  • USC Aiken No
  • Meal Plan
  • Oakland Yes
  • USC Aiken Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Oakland No
  • USC Aiken No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Oakland Yes
  • USC Aiken Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI with University of South Carolina Aiken in Aiken, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakland University is larger than USC Aiken based on total student enrollment (15,768 students vs. 4,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oakland University is located in Rochester Hills, MI (Large Suburban setting); University of South Carolina Aiken is in Aiken, SC (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Oakland University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Aiken is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Oakland University 17:1; University of South Carolina Aiken 16:1.

Oakland vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oakland or USC Aiken? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Oakland University than USC Aiken ($12,208 vs. $12,236).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 16% lower than at Oakland University ($9,182 vs. $10,932).
  • Oakland University is 41.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than USC Aiken (about $4,502 more per year; $15,262.00 vs. $10,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.3% higher at Oakland than at University of South Carolina Aiken (about $1,970 more per year; $23,188.00 vs. $21,218.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oakland University than at University of South Carolina Aiken (94% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oakland University students is 45.9% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Aiken students ($12,988 vs. $8,904).

Oakland vs. USC Aiken Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oakland or USC Aiken? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between USC Aiken and Oakland.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oakland University (1130) is 30 points higher than at USC Aiken (1100).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oakland University 1030/1230; University of South Carolina Aiken 980/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of South Carolina Aiken 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oakland - Test optional; USC Aiken - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: USC Aiken Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Oakland students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at USC Aiken (3.19).
  • Oakland has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than USC Aiken (78.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at Oakland vs. 28.2% at USC Aiken.

Oakland vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oakland and USC Aiken? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of South Carolina Aiken's six-year graduation rate (41%) is higher than Oakland University's (40%).
  • Graduates from Oakland University earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than USC Aiken graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,700 vs. $39,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakland University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than USC Aiken graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Oakland graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC Aiken graduates ($258 vs. $268).
  • More USC Aiken graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oakland students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.