Oakland vs. Coastal Carolina

Comparable Facts

Compare Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI with Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakland University is larger than Coastal Carolina based on total student enrollment (15,768 students vs. 11,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Oakland University is located in Rochester Hills, MI (Large Suburban setting); Coastal Carolina University is in Conway, SC (Small City setting).
• Oakland University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Oakland University 17:1; Coastal Carolina University 17:1.

Oakland vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oakland or Coastal Carolina? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Oakland University than Coastal Carolina ($12,208 vs. $14,379).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakland University are 10% lower than at Coastal Carolina University ($10,932 vs. $12,146).
• Oakland University is 31.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Carolina (about $3,622 more per year; $15,262.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.8% higher at Coastal Carolina than at Oakland University (about $6,440 more per year; $29,628.00 vs. $23,188.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Oakland University as at Coastal Carolina University (94% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Oakland University students is 28.8% larger than aid received by Coastal Carolina University students ($12,988 vs. $10,087).

Oakland vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oakland or Coastal Carolina? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Coastal Carolina and Oakland.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Coastal Carolina University (1140) is 10 points higher than at Oakland (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oakland University 1030/1230; Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCoastal Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oakland - Test optional; Coastal Carolina - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Oakland (3.51).
• Oakland has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Coastal Carolina (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at Oakland vs. 16.9% at Coastal Carolina.

Oakland vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oakland and Coastal Carolina? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Coastal Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than Oakland University's (40%).
• Graduates from Oakland University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Coastal Carolina graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,700 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastal Carolina University graduates have a $70 lower median loan debt than Oakland graduates ($24,930 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Coastal Carolina graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oakland graduates ($257 vs. $258).
• More Coastal Carolina graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oakland students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.