Liberal Arts and Sciences at Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
38
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,157/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Low (0% exposed)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)
ROI 10.0x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #116 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $590K $590K $565K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.0x 10.0x 9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.4x 6.4x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 45% 45% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 38 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,776
Out-of-state: $92,752 (6.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,336
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,780
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,563
70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $36,157/yr, roughly in line with the $37,172 national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 10.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic ten-year scenarios is just 4% — this field's hands-on core resists automation.

Median debt of $23,780 represents roughly 8 months of the $36,157 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #116 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, Oakland University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $61,563 show a 70% jump from the $36,157 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Oakland University

Oakland University accepts 70% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 12,450 in Rochester Hills, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Oakland University →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
View all 1 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Liberal Arts and Sciences at Other Schools

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Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Liberal Arts and Sciences at Oakland University?
A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts and Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →