Liberal Arts & Humanities 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 & Humanities 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 & Humanities. 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 & Humanities 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 & Humanities at Other Schools

Other Majors at Oakland University

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 & Humanities at Oakland University?
A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts & Humanities. 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 →