Head-to-head comparison
Oakland University vs University of Michigan-Dearborn: 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 Dearborn, MI
University of Michigan-Dearborn
- Net price / year
- $9,492
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,649
- Payback
- 3.4 yrs
University of Michigan-Dearborn has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $37,968 in 3.4 years versus 3.6 years at Oakland University, on median earnings of $59,649 vs $58,612 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Oakland University | University of Michigan-Dearborn |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,120 | $9,492 |
| Total net cost | $36,480 | $37,968 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,612 | $59,649 |
| Median debt | $22,750 | $22,500 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | 3.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $168,560 | $187,812 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Oakland University or University of Michigan-Dearborn?
Oakland University, at $9,120 a year after aid versus $9,492 — a gap of $372 a year, or $1,488 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 University of Michigan-Dearborn graduates earn more?
University of Michigan-Dearborn graduates report a median $59,649 ten years after entry, $1,037 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 University of Michigan-Dearborn?
University of Michigan-Dearborn: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $22,750 at Oakland University, a difference of $250. 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?
58% of students finish at University of Michigan-Dearborn, 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.