Build your foundation
at Oakland Community College, Michigan
You're deciding whether to spend your first two years at Oakland Community College before finishing a bachelor's elsewhere in Michigan. That choice involves real numbers: transfer rates, earnings after graduation, and what it actually costs you out of pocket.
~15,300 undergrads, 30% transfer out by year 8, median $37k 10-yr earnings, $9,105 median debt.
A solid Michigan CC with a 30% transfer-out rate and low debt
Oakland Community College enrolls about 15,300 undergrads in Auburn Hills and sends 30% of students to a four-year institution within eight years — above the national community college norm. Median earnings sit at $37k ten years out, and median debt is $9,105. Liberal Arts and Sciences leads completions at 363, followed by General Studies and Business. In-district tuition is $2,800 and net price is $5,777. The 0% three-year loan default rate adds confidence. For a southeast Michigan student planning to transfer, OCC has real infrastructure behind the promise.
Oakland Community College is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and enrolls roughly 15,300 undergraduates — about 71% of them part-time. That high part-time share reflects a student body that is often balancing work, family, or both alongside coursework, so timelines tend to stretch. Liberal Arts and Sciences is the top program by completions at 363, and the college also produces meaningful volume in General Studies (241), Business (135), Criminal Justice (124), and Registered Nursing (96). The eight-year transfer-out rate is 30%, a genuine signal that OCC functions as a real feeder into four-year programs, not just a holding pattern. Median earnings ten years out are $37k, median debt is $9,105, and the loan default rate is 0%. In-district tuition is $2,800, with a net price of $5,777. For a southeast Michigan student who is cost-conscious and transfer-focused, the fundamentals are sound.
What this CC teaches at scale
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 363 |
| General Studies. | 241 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 214 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | 135 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science. | 124 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 96 |
| Science Technologies/Technicians, Other. | 92 |
| Social Work. | 87 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance). | 82 |
| Computer Software Engineering. | 46 |
Source · IPEDS completions (all undergraduate credentials).
Where Michigan transfers tend to go
Reflects state-aggregated IPEDS transfer-in volume — CC-specific destinations are not publicly available from IPEDS or the College Scorecard.
Frequently asked
- Is Oakland Community College a good place to start a bachelor's degree?
- The data makes a reasonable case. Thirty percent of OCC students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years, which is above the 15–25% range typical for community colleges nationwide. In-district tuition is $2,800 and net price is $5,777 — moderate for Michigan — and median borrower debt is $9,105. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are $37k, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. The 71% part-time enrollment share means many students are working adults with extended timelines, but the transfer-out rate holds up anyway. If you enter with a clear transfer plan and take advantage of Liberal Arts, General Studies, or Business pathways, OCC gives you a workable and affordable start.
- How does Oakland Community College's transfer-out rate compare to typical community colleges?
- OCC's eight-year transfer-out rate is 30%. National benchmarks for community college transfer typically fall in the 15–25% range, so OCC sits above average. The figure is measured over eight years and is notable given that 71% of OCC students attend part-time — extended part-time schedules generally compress transfer rates, yet OCC still clears the benchmark. An additional 2% were still enrolled at the eight-year mark, and 28% had completed a credential at OCC itself. Together, these numbers suggest OCC is an active pipeline into Michigan's four-year institutions, not merely an enrollment alternative that stalls transfer progress.
- What programs does Oakland Community College offer at meaningful scale?
- OCC's highest-volume programs by completions are Liberal Arts and Sciences (363), General Studies (241), and a related Liberal Arts and Humanities category (214) — a combined Liberal Arts pathway that together accounts for more than 800 completions annually. Business/Commerce adds 135 completions, Criminal Justice 124, and Registered Nursing 96. Science Technologies produced 92 completions, Social Work 87, Emergency Care/EMT 82, and Computer Software Engineering 46. The Liberal Arts and General Studies concentration means OCC is well-suited for students who need a flexible transfer foundation. Nursing, Criminal Justice, and Business each operate at real volume, suggesting developed course infrastructure and advising support in those fields.
Methodology — Transfer signals reflect IPEDS Outcome Measures 8-year cohorts; earnings and debt come from the College Scorecard. Destinations are state-aggregated; we do not claim CC-specific transfer destinations without authoritative per-student tracking data.