Head-to-head comparison
Calumet College of Saint Joseph vs Oakland City University: which has better ROI?
Option A Whiting, IN
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
- Net price / year
- $22,451
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,945
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Oakland City, IN
Oakland City University
- Net price / year
- $15,210
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,283
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Calumet College of Saint Joseph comes closer — median earnings $46,945 against a $89,804 total, vs $43,283 at Oakland City University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Calumet College of Saint Joseph | Oakland City University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,451 | $15,210 |
| Total net cost | $89,804 | $60,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,945 | $43,283 |
| Median debt | $21,534 | $16,758 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$118,104 | -$162,380 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Calumet College of Saint Joseph or Oakland City University?
Oakland City University, at $15,210 a year after aid versus $22,451 — a gap of $7,241 a year, or $28,964 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Calumet College of Saint Joseph or Oakland City University graduates earn more?
Calumet College of Saint Joseph graduates report a median $46,945 ten years after entry, $3,662 more than the $43,283 at Oakland City University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Calumet College of Saint Joseph or Oakland City University?
Oakland City University: its completers carry a median $16,758 in federal loans versus $21,534 at Calumet College of Saint Joseph, a difference of $4,776. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
66% of students finish at Oakland City University, against 23% at Calumet College of Saint Joseph. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.