Head-to-head comparison
Michigan State University vs Oakland University: which has better ROI?
Option A East Lansing, MI
Michigan State University
- Net price / year
- $19,680
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,253
- Payback
- 4.2 yrs
Option B Rochester Hills, MI
Oakland University
- Net price / year
- $9,120
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,612
- Payback
- 3.6 yrs
Oakland University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $36,480 in 3.6 years versus 4.2 years at Michigan State University, on median earnings of $58,612 vs $67,253 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Michigan State University | Oakland University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,680 | $9,120 |
| Total net cost | $78,720 | $36,480 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,253 | $58,612 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $22,750 |
| Payback | 4.2 yrs | 3.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $299,140 | $168,560 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Michigan State University or Oakland University?
Oakland University, at $9,120 a year after aid versus $19,680 — a gap of $10,560 a year, or $42,240 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 Michigan State University or Oakland University graduates earn more?
Michigan State University graduates report a median $67,253 ten years after entry, $8,641 more than the $58,612 at Oakland 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, Michigan State University or Oakland University?
Oakland University: its completers carry a median $22,750 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Michigan State University, a difference of $500. 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?
81% of students finish at Michigan State University, against 58% at Oakland University. 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.