Oakland City University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Oakland City University charges a net price of $15,210/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $60,840. Median earnings ten years after entry are $43,283, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Oakland City University does not clear its cost — it ranks #46 of 56 Indiana colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $15,210/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $60,840 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $43,283 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$5,077/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $16,758 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$162,380 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Oakland City University's own numbers. Net price $15,210 × 4 years = $60,840 total. Median earnings $43,283 fall $5,077 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $60,840 bill in about 6.1 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Oakland City University students graduate with?
A median $16,758 in federal loans among completers, or 39% of the $43,283 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Oakland City University students graduate?
66% finish their degree — 34% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $60,840 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $92,182 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Oakland City University expensive compared with other Indiana colleges?
Its $15,210 net price runs $4,488 below the $19,698 median across the 56 Indiana colleges we profile, and $17,950 less across the full degree.