July 2026 2026 | Oakland80 Newsletter
A Message from Dom Holmes
Director of Economic Development
Each year, the Oakland County Economic Outlook report prepared by the University of Michigan includes our ranking against similar counties across the United States on five measures that provide valuable insights into the County’s economic well-being.
Oakland County’s latest strong showing has again placed us among the most economically successful counties in the United States.
Our ranking among 26 peer counties in educational attainment, one of the five key measures of a strong economy, ranked Oakland County ninth in 2025, with nearly 64 percent of our population holding at least an Associate’s Degree. When you include residents who have an advanced skills certification or other post-secondary credential, this number jumps to nearly 70 percent.
This success has undoubtedly been fueled, in part, by the effectiveness of the Oakland80 initiative. Through Oakland80, we work with partners to inspire students to pursue post-secondary education, ensure they have access to quality programs, and support them through completion and on to good paying jobs.
One example is our Career and Education Navigators who are deployed across Oakland County to connect adults and high school youth with post-secondary options, scholarships and other resources to help them reach their educational goals. Last year, alone, this team met with more than 4,000 adult residents and 3,600 students.
Oakland University, one of our key Oakland80 partners, is enjoying record enrollment and rising degree completion rates. Ample scholarship opportunities, coupled with supportive services provided by the Oakland80 partnership with Oakland County Michigan Works!, are driving this success. Oakland University President Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz said higher education is a central driver of the County’s economic development and regional prosperity, transforming the quality of lives of residents.
I could not agree more with his claim. We know there is a direct correlation between educational attainment and the economic success of a region. According to the U of M forecasters, real wages in Oakland County are projected to rise .6 percent per year through 2028, taking the average real wage per worker to $79,800, more than $9,000 above the statewide average.
In terms of Gross Domestic Product, Oakland County accounted for more than one-fifth of Michigan’s GDP in 2024, while only featuring 12.8 percent of the state’s population. GDP per capita is 60 percent higher than the state average and 30 percent higher than the nation’s. This position has been driven in large part by the growth in skilled positions in the private sector in Oakland County.
The College Board’s most recent trends report, entitled “Education Pays 2026” further supports the value of a post-secondary degree, in particular. In 2024, the median annual earnings of Bachelor’s Degree recipients age 25 and older were $31,200 higher than those of high school graduates.
It has been six years since Oakland County Executive David Coulter launched the Oakland80 initiative. Its success has been impressive and there is no doubt the increase in the number of adult residents who have secured an advanced degree or certification has enabled Oakland County to continue flourishing from an economic perspective.
The support of our partners across the region, including employers, labor, education and civic organizations, has been critical to this success. Thank you.
Dom Holmes | Director of Economic Development
Oakland County, Michigan
|
Oakland80 By the Numbers
Career and Education Navigator Services for Adults:
Career and Education Navigator Services for High School Students:
-
3,390 students received one-on-one counseling and navigation services
- Over 9,780 one-on-one services provided
- Over 1,950 events for students and their family hosted or attended
- Over 135,920 connections made in-person and through outreach efforts
Oakland80 Supportive Services:
-
Over 4,180 individuals received Oakland80 Supportive Services
-
Over 7,000 barriers to education and employment removed
Partner Spotlight
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Testing
According to a 2025 report from Education Data Initiative, 1,093,393 Michigan residents fall into the category of Some College, No Credential (SCNC). Meaning Michiganders make up 4.8% of the nationwide SCNCs.
The Oakland80 initiative was introduced to not only help adult learners and high-school seniors explore post-secondary education, but to encourage returning learners to head back to school and complete their degree or credential.
To help individuals reach their own educational attainment goals, Oakland County Michigan Works! Waterford, in partnership with Oakland80 and Gesher Human Services, has become a College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Test Center. CLEP testing allows people to earn college credit for the knowledge they already have, therefore saving on tuition costs and hours spent inside a classroom.
“Oakland80 is committed to increasing postsecondary attainment across Oakland County,” said Oakland80 Administrator Rana Al-Igoe. “CLEP testing provides an alternative approach for residents to earn college credit for knowledge they have already gained through work experience, military service, independent study, career training, or prior coursework. This can help reduce both the time and cost required to earn a degree or credential.”
For a limited time, Oakland County residents can visit the Oakland County Michigan Works! Waterford office to take free CLEP exams spanning across 34 topics. Although CLEP exams typically charge a participation fee, American Rescue Plan funds have made it possible for Oakland County Michigan Works! to offer free tests to community members.
Those testing will want to verify which exams are accepted by their intended college or university. Once transferable credits have been determined, the test taker will need to register through the College Board and then schedule an appointment with Oakland County Michigan Works! Waterford using the testing center code 8493. Once the exam is complete, scores are sent to the college or university, and the institution will determine whether credit is granted.
These tests remove barriers and create more opportunities for academic success for individuals. CLEP testing offers the following benefits to all test takers:
-
Earn college credit without taking a traditional course
- Reduce the overall cost of a degree
- Accelerate journey to graduation
- Avoid duplication of coursework in subjects already mastered
- Increase flexibility for working adults, parents, military veterans, and other learners with competing responsibilities
“Many adults possess college-level knowledge but have never received academic credit for it,” said Al-Igoe. “Access to CLEP testing helps remove barriers to education by recognizing existing skills and knowledge, accelerating educational progress, and making higher education more affordable.”
From now until October, Oakland County residents, including recently graduated high school seniors, individuals with existing credits, and those without, can register for CLEP testing and visit the OCMW! Waterford office to complete their exam in person.
“These tests create access to education that they may not have otherwise had,” said Al-Igoe. “Oakland80 is thrilled to offer this option to Oakland County residents and help them make significant strides towards meeting their educational goals.”
To learn more about CLEP testing, visit clep.collegeboard.org or connect with your local Oakland80 navigator at Oakland80.com.
|
News Articles
Success Story
Confronting Barriers to Pursue Care of Others
Despite facing several obstacles, Oakland County resident Peyton Milie began her college journey through determination and persistence.
While attending Harbor High School, an alternative school in Commerce Township, Peyton worked tirelessly to complete her high school diploma ahead of schedule. By November, she had successfully finished all requirements and was ready to enroll at Oakland Community College (OCC) and begin working toward a career in nursing.
However, the transition to college was not without challenge.
Milie’s official diploma had not yet been issued and her high school transcript failed to reflect a November graduation date. Initially, she was denied admission to Oakland Community College although she had completed her requirements. The missing documentation created barriers to enrollment and financial aid.
With the support of Oakland80 High School Navigator David Williams III, Milie remained focused on her goals. With help from Williams, the Harbor High team provided a letter verifying completion of her diploma. The documentation allowed the OCC admissions office to move forward with her enrollment, allowing Milie to begin classes on the schedule she originally planned for.
Shortly after enrolling, Milie encountered another hurdle when her Federal Pell Grant was delayed due to the same documentation issue. Confident her navigator could help her overcome another obstacle; Milie reached out to Williams for guidance. The verification letter was submitted, and her Pell Grant funds were released in time to cover her tuition costs.
Milie also qualified for Michigan’s Tuition Incentive Program (TIP), though those funds will become available once her high school diploma is on file with OCC.
Throughout the process, Milie met with her navigator consistently to develop her post-secondary plan, complete college applications, apply for FAFSA and navigate the college enrollment process. She was also connected with her local Oakland County Michigan Works! office for supportive services, including transportation assistance, which covered the cost of new tires on her vehicle.
Today, Milie is successfully enrolled at Oakland Community College pursuing pre-nursing studies, with the long-term goal of earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
“The right navigator can turn confusion into confidence,” said Milie while reflecting on her journey. “There was so much confusion when trying to register for classes, but they stayed confident in me, allowing me to be confident too.”
Milie’s story is a powerful example of how one-on-one support, persistence and strong community partnerships help students overcome barriers and confidently pursue their educational and career goals.
|
Call to Action
Upcoming Virtual Workshops and Partner Event Highlights
-
Click here for a complete listing of all Oakland80 Virtual Workshops and Partner Events.
-
Are you hosting any upcoming events that you’d like to add to our calendar? Please email details to Oakland80@OakGov.com so that we can help spread the word!
Join an Oakland County Subcommittee
We have several Oakland80 subcommittees that are focused on various strategies developed with the help of our key partners. These subcommittees typically meet virtually on a quarterly basis:
-
Marketing – Develops and executes a cohesive Oakland80 marketing campaign with targeted outreach strategies to various populations.
-
Strategy I – Accelerate Exposure to Career Exploration
-
Strategy II – Support Transitions from High School to Post-Secondary Education
-
Strategy III – Optimize Financial Aid Utilization
-
Strategy IV – Attract and Retain Students and Talent
We invite you and your colleagues to join! Interested individuals should send an email to Oakland80@OakGov.com with the name(s) of the subcommittee you are interest in joining. Please make sure the email includes your organization, title, and contact information.
 Did you find this publication helpful? Subscribe at:
public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOAKL/subscriber/new?topic_id=MIOAKL_1260
|
