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Otterbein University
Westerville, OH
Otterbein University is a private liberal arts institution located in Westerville, Ohio. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest university in the city and has a rich history of academic excellence and community engagement. With a student population of around 2,600, Otterbein provides a close-knit and supportive environment where students can pursue their academic and personal goals.
At Otterbein, students have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of academic programs across various disciplines. The university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors, as well as several graduate programs. Students benefit from small class sizes, allowing for personalized attention from dedicated faculty members who are experts in their respective fields. In addition to a strong emphasis on intellectual growth, Otterbein also emphasizes experiential learning, providing students with hands-on opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills through internships, research projects, and community service.
Apart from academics, Otterbein places a strong focus on its core values, which include integrity, diversity, social responsibility, and sustainability. The university encourages students to become well-rounded individuals by participating in extracurricular activities, such as sports, student organizations, and cultural events. Otterbein also has a vibrant arts program, offering opportunities for students to engage in theater, music, art, and dance. With its beautiful campus, committed faculty, and diverse community, Otterbein University provides a comprehensive educational experience that prepares students for a successful career and a fulfilling life.
Otterbein University is a private university located in Westerville, OH and set in a suburban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 83%. The freshman retention rate at Otterbein University is 82.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 69%.
Read more about what you can expect if you get into Otterbein University.
Quick Facts
2,119
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
83%
Acceptance Rate
$35,024
Tuition
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
69%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Discover some relevant facts about admission at Otterbein University.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,914 in 2024. Otterbein University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 15% and ACT scores 50.7%. 8.9% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 34.6% between 1,200 and 1,399, 39.7% between 1,000 and 1,199, 12.8% between 800 and 999, and 3.8% between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 9.88, 37.6 between 24-29, 35.4 in the range between 18-23, and 17.1 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.68. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Otterbein University.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Otterbein University was 82.4% in 2024, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 69%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the institution had an enrollment of 2,357 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 9% for that year. The school admitted a total of 81 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 844 male and 1,295 female full-time students in 2024. There were 73 full-time graduate male and 109 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Otterbein University.
This school had 78 Asian students and 229 Afro-American students in 2024. 136 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 111 as multirace. The school also had 12 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 58 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Otterbein University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $35,024 in 2024. Otterbein University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $524 in 2024.
Books and Supplies
The estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant expense. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,554.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Otterbein University was $13,026 in 2024. If you only wanted a dormitory room, you had to pay $6,706 for the 2024 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $6,684.
| Tuition | $ 35,024 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,026 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,554 |
| Total Expense | $ 49,604 |
Financial Aid
Financial help for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at Otterbein University.
The most recent records show that 303 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $29,973.
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.
There were 1,134 students who obtained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Otterbein University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,134. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $1,243,689, and state $982,688. The students of Otterbein University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $8,768,997, and external in the amount of $185,976.
$17,668
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-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.
225 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2024. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 78 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $1,243,689 while the state aid is $3,772. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $3,465,030. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $180,498 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2024, this ratio at Otterbein University was 8:1. That means that there were 8 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 326 teachers at this school. Out of that number, there were 134 men and 191 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Otterbein University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Otterbein University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about social life at Otterbein University.
Its campus is 142 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 100 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. 28 percent of male and 28 of female students participate in different organizations at Otterbein University. Other popular organizations at Otterbein University are Honoraries and Musical groups.
Students who have a talent for music can join the Otterbein University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? Otterbein University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Otterbein University provides a number of services important for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a 24-hour security patrol. There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Otterbein University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Otterbein University.
Career Counselling
At Otterbein University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Otterbein University is located in Westerville, OH.
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Otterbein University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 35,024 USD per academic year for Otterbein University.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Otterbein University is 83%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Otterbein University is 82.4%.
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.