Oberlin College
A good fit for students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. strong 81% graduation rate; financial aid brings net price below sticker.
About This School
Oberlin College is a private nonprofit institution located in Oberlin, Ohio with approximately 2,887 undergraduate students enrolled. The school is moderately selective, accepting approximately 34% of applicants. The average net price after financial aid is $38,645 per year. The graduation rate is 81%, and the typical graduate earns $45,500 within 10 years of enrollment.
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio, United States. Founded as the Oberlin Collegiate Institute in 1833, it is the oldest coeducational liberal arts college in the United States and the second-oldest continuously operating coeducational institute of higher learning in the world. The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the United States.
Worth considering if you're drawn to progressive liberal arts education and the arts conservatory — the 89% freshman retention rate suggests students generally find their footing here. The $39,184 average net price is real money, so weigh it carefully against median earnings of just $45,500 ten years out, which is modest for the cost. The 79% graduation rate is decent but not exceptional, so ask admissions hard questions about what's pulling the other 21% away before graduation.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 16% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Oberlin College graduates earn most above the national rate in Computer and Information Sciences, General ($129,395 vs $92,374 nationally), and most below it in Biology, General ($44,095 vs $57,214).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | 136 | $43,343 | $42,892 | +$451 |
| Psychology, General | 58 | $48,109 | $50,706 | −$2,597 |
| Economics | 58 | $87,120 | $82,686 | +$4,434 |
| Biology, General | 53 | $44,095 | $57,214 | −$13,119 |
| Political Science and Government | 51 | $70,689 | $63,293 | +$7,396 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 49 | $46,580 | $55,012 | −$8,432 |
| History | 45 | $60,895 | $50,680 | +$10,215 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 38 | $44,299 | $41,367 | +$2,932 |
| Area Studies | 35 | $55,151 | $56,625 | −$1,474 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 34 | $129,395 | $92,374 | +$37,021 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 24 | $49,906 | $48,590 | +$1,316 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,887 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Oberlin College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Oberlin College?
Oberlin College has an acceptance rate of 34%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Oberlin College hard to get into?
Oberlin College is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 34%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Oberlin College cost?
The average net price at Oberlin College is about $38,645 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Oberlin College?
Oberlin College has a graduation rate of 81%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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