Oakland vs. WLC

Comparable Facts

Compare Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI with Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakland University is larger than WLC based on total student enrollment (15,768 students vs. 1,027 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Oakland University is located in Rochester Hills, MI (Large Suburban setting); Wisconsin Lutheran College is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
• Oakland University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Oakland University 17:1; Wisconsin Lutheran College 11:1.

Oakland vs. WLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oakland or WLC? 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 WLC ($12,208 vs. $24,095).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakland University are 10.8% lower than at Wisconsin Lutheran College ($10,932 vs. $12,250).
• Wisconsin Lutheran College is 136.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oakland (about $20,848 more per year; $36,110.00 vs. $15,262.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55.7% higher at WLC than at Oakland University (about $12,922 more per year; $36,110.00 vs. $23,188.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wisconsin Lutheran College than at Oakland University (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wisconsin Lutheran College students is 89.6% larger than aid received by Oakland University students ($24,624 vs. $12,988).

Oakland vs. WLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oakland or WLC? 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 WLC and Oakland.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oakland University (1130) is 30 points higher than at WLC (1100).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oakland University 1030/1230; Wisconsin Lutheran College 970/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWisconsin Lutheran College 23/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oakland - Test optional; WLC - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman WLC students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at Oakland (3.51).
• Oakland has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than WLC (78.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at Oakland vs. 20.2% at WLC.

Oakland vs. WLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oakland and WLC? 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).

• Wisconsin Lutheran College's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Oakland University's (40%).
• Graduates from Oakland University earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than WLC graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,700 vs. $43,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wisconsin Lutheran College and Oakland graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Wisconsin Lutheran College and Oakland graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
• More WLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oakland students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.