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Oberlin , OH
Oberlin College is a prestigious liberal arts college located in Oberlin, Ohio. Founded in 1833, it is one of the oldest coeducational institutions in the United States. Oberlin College has a strong reputation for its academic excellence and commitment to social justice. The college offers a wide range of undergraduate programs across various disciplines, including sciences, humanities, social sciences, and arts.
At Oberlin College, the curriculum is designed to foster intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. Students are encouraged to explore diverse academic interests through the college's liberal arts approach. The college offers more than 50 majors and minors, allowing students to pursue a multidisciplinary education. Additionally, Oberlin College is known for its double-degree program, which provides students with an opportunity to combine a Bachelor of Music degree with a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree.
Apart from its rigorous academics, Oberlin College is recognized for its progressive and inclusive values. The college has a long history of social activism and was one of the first colleges in the United States to admit students of all races and genders. Oberlin is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community, and it offers numerous resources and support for underrepresented students. The campus is known for its vibrant arts scene, with renowned music and theater programs, as well as its dedication to sustainability initiatives.
Overall, Oberlin College provides students with a well-rounded education that combines academic excellence with a commitment to social justice and inclusivity. It prepares students for careers in various fields and equips them with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate a rapidly changing world. With its rich history and strong emphasis on critical thinking and creativity, Oberlin College continues to attract and cultivate bright minds from all walks of life.
Oberlin College is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Oberlin, OH. This school follows a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 34%. The freshman retention rate at Oberlin College is 91% and the six-year graduation rate is 81%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is April 1.
Find out more about what you can expect if you get into Oberlin College.
Quick Facts
2,896
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$68,340
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
81%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you find out as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly increase. Check out some essential facts about admission at Oberlin College.
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,597 in 2025. Oberlin College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an outstanding educational experience.
Test Scores
31% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 17% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 70% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 29% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 1% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 89, 10 between 24-29 and 1 in the range between 18-23.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.7. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Oberlin College.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to Oberlin College is January 15. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is April 1.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Oberlin College was 91% in 2025, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 81%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the right place for you is not a simple task. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Oberlin College in 2025 was 2,910.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 91% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 2,896, 274 of which were international students. The school reported to have a total of 28 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,179 male and 1,701 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 147 Asian students and 125 Afro-American students in 2025. 265 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 264 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 1 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 50 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Oberlin College.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Oberlin College estimated tuition price.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $68,340 in 2025. Oberlin College is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $1,092 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $930.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Oberlin College was $20,096 per academic year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school amounted to $9,970, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 68,340 |
| Room and Board | $ 20,096 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 930 |
| Total Expense | $ 89,366 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Oberlin College, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent records show that 386 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students totaled $55,794.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
1,082 students were designated some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Oberlin College is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 1,082. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $2,580,710, and state $230,600. The students of Oberlin College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $72,517,212, and external in the amount of $5,709,082.
$22,568
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,082 students overall (including freshmen) at Oberlin College in 2025. 386 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $32,799,823. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $3,193,634 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at Oberlin College was 9:1. That means that there were 9 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 373 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 189 male and 184 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Oberlin College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at Oberlin College.
Its campus spans 440 acres.
Student Organizations
Involvement in student organizations can make your educational experience more dynamic and gratifying.
Students interested in music can join the Oberlin College band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Oberlin College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
FAQ
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Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, OH.
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Oberlin College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Oberlin College is 68,340 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Oberlin College is 34%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Oberlin College is 91%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
