Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Oakland University

Michigan's health sciences programs show a wide earnings range, from $26,000 to over $50,000 in first-year income. Without program-specific data from Oakland, we're working with national medians that suggest $35,279 in first-year earnings against roughly $24,790 in debt. That 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in reasonable territory—you'd be borrowing less than a year's salary—but these estimates don't capture what Oakland graduates specifically experience in Michigan's healthcare job market.

The concerning part is how this falls short of Michigan's typical health sciences outcomes. Other programs in the state average nearly $40,000 in first-year earnings, suggesting Oakland's broader health sciences degree might not lead to the same clinical roles or immediate employment opportunities. Health sciences bachelor's degrees are notoriously variable—some feed directly into healthcare positions while others serve as stepping stones to graduate programs. Without knowing where Oakland's graduates actually land, you're gambling on whether this particular curriculum opens doors to the higher-earning positions or leaves students needing additional credentials.

If your child is certain about a specific healthcare career path, programs with transparent outcomes data would reduce that uncertainty. If this is exploratory or a foundation for future graduate work, make sure Oakland's curriculum aligns with those next-step requirements—because at these estimated earnings, this degree by itself may not justify the investment without a clear professional destination.