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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. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 84%. The freshman retention rate at Otterbein University is 79.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 68%.
Here are some recent information on important things to consider about Otterbein University.
Quick Facts
2,211
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$36,074
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
68%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. Read on to find out some vital information about admission policy and requirements at Otterbein University.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,315 in 2025. Otterbein University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them. 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 23% and ACT scores 41%. 6% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 24% between 1,200 and 1,399, 33% between 1,000 and 1,199, 31% of the students between 800 and 999, and 6% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 12, 32 between 24-29, 38 in the range between 18-23, and 18 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 23 while the average GPA was 3.63. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 546 and an average SAT Math score of 535.
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. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Otterbein University was 79.8%, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 68%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the optimal fit for you is not easy. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 2,332 students.
That year, the school had 10% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 2,211 undergraduate students, including 11 international students. 98 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 853 male and 1,323 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 76 Asian students and 270 Afro-American students in 2025. 117 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 125 as multirace. The school also had 12 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 59 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this institution have.
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.
Tuition in 2025 was $36,074 for full-time domestic students. Since Otterbein University is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $524 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,594.
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 $13,662 in 2025. If you only needed a dorm room, you had to pay $6,840 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $6,872.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 36,074 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,662 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,594 |
| Total Expense | $ 51,330 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid available at Otterbein University.
According to the most recent data, 303 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $29,973.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
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 total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 1,134. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $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
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of 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, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 78 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $1,243,689 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $3,772. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need 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
12:1
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 Otterbein University was 12:1. That means that there were 12 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 283 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 114 men and 169 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
It is not all about learning and grades at Otterbein University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some information about students' life at Otterbein University.
It has a campus size of 142 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 69 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. This number includes sororities and fraternities. 18 percent of male and 13 of female students participate in different organizations at Otterbein University. The student organization that is most favored by students is Otterbein Student Education Association, followed by 11th Hour Theatre Company and Black Student Union. Other popular organizations at Otterbein University are Otterbein Student Nursing Association and OtterPAWS.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Otterbein University band or chorus. If you're interested in acting, you have the option to join a drama club. For students interested in media and communication, Otterbein University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Otterbein University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Otterbein University.
All in all, campus life at Otterbein University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
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 school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Acquiring information about the potential income after graduation can help you decide if a specific school is the right one for your career aspirations.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 51,849 USD.
$51,849
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
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 36,074 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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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Otterbein University is 84%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Otterbein University is 79.8%.
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.
