Head-to-head comparison
Oakland University vs Michigan Technological University: 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 Houghton, MI
Michigan Technological University
- Net price / year
- $14,182
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,198
- Payback
- 1.9 yrs
Michigan Technological University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $56,728 in 1.9 years versus 3.6 years at Oakland University, on median earnings of $78,198 vs $58,612 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Oakland University | Michigan Technological University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,120 | $14,182 |
| Total net cost | $36,480 | $56,728 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,612 | $78,198 |
| Median debt | $22,750 | $24,990 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | 1.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $168,560 | $540,032 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Oakland University or Michigan Technological University?
Oakland University, at $9,120 a year after aid versus $14,182 — a gap of $5,062 a year, or $20,248 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 Michigan Technological University graduates earn more?
Michigan Technological University graduates report a median $78,198 ten years after entry, $19,586 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 Michigan Technological University?
Oakland University: its completers carry a median $22,750 in federal loans versus $24,990 at Michigan Technological University, a difference of $2,240. 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?
68% of students finish at Michigan Technological 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.