Oakland University vs College of Charleston

Oakland University and College of Charleston are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Oakland University is more selective with a 70.2% acceptance rate compared to College of Charleston's 72.0%. Average SAT scores are 1110 and 1238 respectively.

Cost: Oakland University offers a lower average net price at $13,584, which is $5,934 less than College of Charleston ($19,518). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Oakland University earn a median salary of $58,612 ten years after enrollment, which is $2,196 more than College of Charleston graduates ($56,416).

Graduation: College of Charleston leads with a 64.8% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 75.2% vs 82.3%.

Campus Size: Oakland University is the larger campus with 12,450 total students, while College of Charleston has 10,366.

Bottom Line: Oakland University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.