Head-to-head comparison
Oakland University vs Chamberlain University-Michigan: which has better ROI?
Option A Rochester Hills, MI
Oakland University
- Net price / year
- $9,120
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,612
- Payback
- 3.6 yrs
Option B Troy, MI
Chamberlain University-Michigan
- Net price / year
- $28,045
- Earnings, 10 years
- $92,405
- Payback
- 2.5 yrs
Chamberlain University-Michigan has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $112,180 in 2.5 years versus 3.6 years at Oakland University, on median earnings of $92,405 vs $58,612 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Oakland University | Chamberlain University-Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,120 | $28,045 |
| Total net cost | $36,480 | $112,180 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,612 | $92,405 |
| Median debt | $22,750 | $20,919 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | 2.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $168,560 | $768,720 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Oakland University or Chamberlain University-Michigan?
Oakland University, at $9,120 a year after aid versus $28,045 — a gap of $18,925 a year, or $75,700 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 Oakland University or Chamberlain University-Michigan graduates earn more?
Chamberlain University-Michigan graduates report a median $92,405 ten years after entry, $33,793 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, Oakland University or Chamberlain University-Michigan?
Chamberlain University-Michigan: its completers carry a median $20,919 in federal loans versus $22,750 at Oakland University, a difference of $1,831. 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?
100% of students finish at Chamberlain University-Michigan, 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.