Oakland, California Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Oakland, California shows: median public in-state tuition $12,374 (+124.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $92,538 (+70.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 83.3% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $20,825 (+55.0% vs U.S.) 15,986 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 10 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 15,986 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $12,374 (+124.5% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $92,538 (+70.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 83.3% (-4.6 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,766 (+98.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $20,825 (+55.0% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $11,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 100.0%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 80.5%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Oakland, California—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against California and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Oakland vs California & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland, California | $12,374 | $19,766 | $20,825 | 100.0% | 15,986 |
| California (state median) | $1,350 | $8,343 | $11,400 | 58.5% | 2,158,168 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Oakland, California vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland, California | $92,538 | 83.3% | 80.5% | 3.9% | — | 90.1% | 0.20 |
| California (state median) | $65,986 | 90.1% | 84.0% | 3.9% | — | 74.5% | 0.28 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in California (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland, California | $12,374 | $19,766 | $20,825 | 100.0% | 15,986 | $92,538 | 83.3% |
| Los Angeles | $19,040 | $21,911 | $17,436 | 71.4% | 121,181 | $74,165 | 87.7% |
| San Diego | $12,442 | $24,300 | $15,000 | 61.9% | 115,966 | $64,909 | 87.8% |
| Sacramento | $1,288 | $20,520 | $10,600 | 50.8% | 94,048 | $64,876 | 91.3% |
| Long Beach | $4,453 | $14,158 | $11,812 | 68.9% | 60,761 | $64,403 | 91.1% |
| Fullerton | $5,420 | $6,555 | $13,750 | 70.2% | 56,299 | $56,324 | 89.2% |
| Fresno | $7,350 | $20,190 | $10,674 | 53.5% | 54,532 | $60,070 | 91.2% |
| Riverside | $15,606 | $21,765 | $11,884 | 60.8% | 53,903 | $61,824 | 90.9% |
| Pasadena | $31,530 | $25,065 | $13,194 | 37.4% | 49,021 | $62,222 | 84.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Oakland, California
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 4 | $92,538 | 83.3% | 80.5% | 3.9% | — | 90.1% |
Top 10 colleges in Oakland, California by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 93.8%, Samuel Merritt University
Samuel Merritt University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Oakland, California (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 100.0%, Reach University
Reach University
Top 10 colleges in Oakland, California by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $119,486, Samuel Merritt University
Samuel Merritt University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $115,587, Northeastern University Oakland
Northeastern University Oakland
Top 10 colleges in Oakland, California by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $163,708, Northeastern University Oakland
Northeastern University Oakland
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $148,193, Samuel Merritt University
Samuel Merritt University
Top 10 colleges in Oakland, California by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $143,353, Samuel Merritt University
Samuel Merritt University
Top 10 colleges in Oakland, California by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $147,923, Samuel Merritt University
Samuel Merritt University
Top 10 colleges in Oakland, California by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $143,238, Samuel Merritt University
Samuel Merritt University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Oakland, California (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $22,423, Reach University
Reach University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $25,181, Northeastern University Oakland
Northeastern University Oakland
Top 10 colleges in Oakland, California by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 80.5%, Reach University
Reach University
In-state tuition: Oakland, California vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Oakland, California median in-state tuition is $12,374, +124.5% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Oakland, California vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Oakland, California is $20,825 (+55.0% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $11,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Oakland, California vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Oakland, California center around $92,538 (+70.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Oakland, California vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 83.3% at the median Oakland, California campus (-4.6 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Oakland, California median public in-state tuition is $12,374, about +124.5% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +276.8%.
Median graduate debt is $20,825 (+55.0% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Oakland, California are $92,538, about +70.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 83.3% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-4.6 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 80.5% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 3.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 90.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Samuel Merritt University (93.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Oakland, California, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $92,538 (4 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Oakland, California is 100.0% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Oakland?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 10 campuses in Oakland, California with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Oakland?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Oakland is $12,374 and median net price is $19,766. For California overall, medians are $1,350 and $8,343; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Oakland?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Oakland is $92,538 vs $65,986 for California and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Oakland colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Oakland is $20,825 vs $11,400 for California and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Oakland?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Samuel Merritt University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Oakland?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 10 campuses in Oakland, California, 4 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Merritt College, Moler Barber College, and Samuel Merritt University; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Unitarian Universalist (1).
Sources & related
- California college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON