Bachelor's · Rochester Hills, Michigan

Is Political Science and Government at Oakland University worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 5.5 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $35,779; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $54,919; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $19,250; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $50k (likely $50k – $70k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $19k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in MI; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 5.5 years (likely 3.8–8.3); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$60k (likely −$144k – $33k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $183k (likely $10k – $379k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 58%; Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26