Oberlin College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Oberlin, Ohio. It enrolls 2,887 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes88
Value6
Affordability4
Selectivity92
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 34.2%, Oberlin College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
34.2%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1360 – 1520
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
31 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Oberlin College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
3.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Oberlin College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $38,645 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$38,645
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
10%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
31%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$67,366
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,510
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,270
Books & Supplies
$1,908
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,908
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,908
Total Cost of Attendance
$87,404
Application fee: $100 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$18,774
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,799
$48,001 – $75,000
$22,123
$75,001 – $110,000
$29,207
Over $110,000
$48,731
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,00025%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$29,43175%percentile
$36,03890%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,500
↓ $6,500
No Pell $19,500
↓ $6,500
Female students $19,648
↓ $6,352
Male students $18,600
↓ $7,400
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,000, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
79% of full-time students who enrolled at Oberlin College graduate within six years, and 90% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
79%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
90%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Oberlin College earn a median of $58,343 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,343
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$48,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,700, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Oberlin College is home to 2,887 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,887
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
9%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 60.9%1,759
International 9.5%275
Other 9.2%266
Hispanic 9.2%265
Asian 5.1%147
Black 4.3%125
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Oberlin College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeOberlin, Ohio
Housing
Strongly residential2,694 beds for 2,887 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Oberlin College offers
a varied set of programs:
37 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Oberlin College is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.4B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$101,350
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
274 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
81
30%
$142,946
Associate Professors
68
25%
$112,969
Assistant Professors
95
35%
$69,235
Instructors
5
2%
$65,875
Lecturers
2
1%
$61,930
No Rank
23
8%
$64,301
Pros & Cons of Oberlin College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Oberlin College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Most students don't qualify for need-based federal aid
Frequently Asked Questions about Oberlin College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Oberlin College.
Is Oberlin College hard to get into?
Oberlin College is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 34.2%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Oberlin College?
Oberlin College has an acceptance rate of 34.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Oberlin College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Oberlin College scored between 1360 and 1520 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Oberlin College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Oberlin College scored between 31 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Oberlin College cost?
The average net price after aid at Oberlin College is $38,645 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Oberlin College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,343 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $38,645 per year. That's roughly 1.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Oberlin College known for?
Oberlin College is best known for its programs in Music, Economics, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Oberlin College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Oberlin College are $58,343, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Oberlin College accredited?
Yes. Oberlin College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Oberlin College?
Oberlin College enrolls 2,887 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Oberlin College?
Oberlin College graduates 79% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Oberlin College a public or private college?
Oberlin College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Oberlin College located?
Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, Ohio.
What programs does Oberlin College offer?
Oberlin College offers 37 distinct programs. The most popular include Music, Economics, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Oberlin College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Oberlin College is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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