At $10,705/yr net price, Cameron University graduates earn $40,118/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $6,118/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $10,705 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $42,820 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,118/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$6,118/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 21.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,933/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,017/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,461/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,411/yr |
| $110,001+ | $16,236/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General. | Master | $64,493 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor | $58,673 | $25,189 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $54,435 | |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | Bachelor | $47,260 | |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $43,240 | |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $41,342 | $18,316 |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design. | Bachelor | $41,193 | |
| Education, General. | Master | $38,289 | |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor | $35,416 | $18,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $34,704 | $25,090 |
The Risk Factor
21.5% of students at Cameron University graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Cameron University is a low-cost bet with a low payoff and a serious completion problem. At about $10,705 a year, it stays cheap, and median debt sits at $21,500. But only 21.5% of students finish, and one in three first-year students doesn't come back for year two. That means the biggest financial risk here isn't tuition. It's paying for a year or two, borrowing, and leaving without a degree to show for it.
If you do graduate, the payoff is modest. Median earnings ten years out land near $40,000, which trails what many bachelor's holders earn nationally. Your major matters a lot. Liberal Arts and General Studies grads top the list around $58,700, and Computer Science follows near $54,400. The catch: that Liberal Arts figure comes with the highest program debt on the list, over $25,000, so the return is real but leveraged. Computer Science gives you strong earnings without the same debt load, making it the safer financial pick.
The soft spots are the interdisciplinary and education-media paths near $41,000 to $47,000. Those don't clear the bar much above the school's overall median, so borrowing heavily for them is hard to justify.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your household earns under $30,000, you pay under $9,000 a year. Cross $75,000 and your price jumps to roughly $16,400, a $5,000 annual gap over the middle tier. For higher-income families, the value case weakens fast given the earnings ceiling.
This school fits you if you live near Lawton, want a low-debt path, and will commit to finishing in a field like Computer Science. If you need strong earnings or aren't confident you'll graduate, the completion odds here should give you pause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cameron University worth the cost?
Cameron University's low net price of $10,705 per year makes it affordable, but graduates earn just $40,118 ten years after graduation. The 21.5% graduation rate means most students don't finish their degrees, which significantly hurts the return on investment.
What are the best paying programs at Cameron University?
Business graduates from Cameron University earn the highest salaries at $64,493, followed by Liberal Arts at $58,673 and Computer Science at $54,435. These programs offer better financial returns than the school's overall graduate earnings average.
How much debt do Cameron University students typically have?
Cameron University graduates have a median debt of $21,500, which is manageable given the school's low cost. However, with average earnings of $40,118, graduates will need about 15% of their gross income to service federal loan payments.
Why is Cameron University's graduation rate so low?
Only 21.5% of Cameron University students graduate, one of the lowest rates among four-year colleges. This creates major financial risk since students who don't graduate still accumulate debt but miss out on the degree premium that makes college worthwhile.