Michigan vs. Oakland

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Oakland University? 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.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Oakland University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Oakland Rochester Hills, MI
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Oakland Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Oakland 15,768
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • Oakland Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • Oakland #766
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • Oakland -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Oakland Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • Oakland

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Oakland $15,262
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Oakland $23,188
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Oakland $10,932
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Oakland $12,208
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • Oakland $12,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • Oakland 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Oakland 17,593
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Oakland 15,454
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Oakland 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Oakland 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • Oakland 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • Oakland
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Oakland 3.51
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • Oakland A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Oakland Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • Oakland
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • Oakland
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Oakland 1030/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Oakland Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • Oakland

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Oakland 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Oakland
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • Oakland 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Oakland $46,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • Oakland 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Oakland $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • Oakland $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • Oakland 42%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • Oakland 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • Oakland Low
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • Oakland No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • Oakland 76%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • Oakland 4%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • Oakland 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • Oakland 3%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • Oakland 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • Oakland 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • Oakland 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • Oakland 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • Oakland 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • Oakland 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • Oakland 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than Oakland based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 15,768 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); Oakland University is in Rochester Hills, MI (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Oakland University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; Oakland University 17:1.

Michigan vs. Oakland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Oakland? 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 Michigan ($12,208 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakland University are 28.7% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($10,932 vs. $15,328).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 16.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oakland (about $2,474 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $15,262.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 162.8% higher at Michigan than at Oakland University (about $37,758 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $23,188.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oakland University than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (94% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 93.2% larger than aid received by Oakland University students ($25,099 vs. $12,988).

Michigan vs. Oakland Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan or Oakland? 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 Oakland and Michigan.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 320 points higher than at Oakland (1130).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Oakland University 1030/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; Oakland - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Oakland (3.51).
  • Oakland has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 14.7% at Oakland.

Michigan vs. Oakland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and Oakland? 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 Michigan Ann Arbor's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Oakland University's (40%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $27,700 more per year than Oakland graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $46,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $4,897 lower median loan debt than Oakland graduates ($20,103 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oakland graduates ($207 vs. $258).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oakland students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.