Acceptance Rate
34%
Avg. SAT
1520
75th percentile
“Oberlin College pioneers radical inclusion and artistic rebellion in a bikeable Ohio village where students co-run their world.”
Oberlin, OH
Location
Town
Campus Setting
You'll step into Oberlin's world grateful for its 1833 founding as America's first college to admit Black students and women on equal footing—coeducation wasn't a gimmick here, but a defiant stand by abolitionist ministers amid the Underground Railroad's secret routes through campus. This legacy shapes a tight-knit community of 3,000 undergrads who thrive if you're fiercely independent, socially conscious, and drawn to experimentation; picture quirky intellectuals debating ethics over vegan potlucks, but if you crave urban buzz or conservative conformity, the progressive echo chamber and fringe-town isolation might wear thin. Oberlin's personality pulses with activist grit—students sued the college over divestment in the '70s and won—set in leafy, car-free Oberlin, Ohio, a progressive pocket 35 miles from Cleveland where Apollo's Finest ice cream shop nods to alumni moonwalkers, though blizzards and limited nightlife demand self-starters.
Photo Gallery
+36
+28
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Oberlin's seminars, expect professors who ditch lectures for Socratic grilling in classes capped at 20, fueled by a 9:1 ratio that means your neuroscience prof knows your thesis quirks better than your roommate. The Conservatory of Music stands out for double-degree seekers blending Bach with politics, while environmental studies tracks climate policy through hands-on farms, and cognitive science labs let freshmen map brains—yet pure pre-meds might detour to nearby Case Western for labs, as Oberlin prioritizes broad inquiry over vocational pipelines. Research flows early via summer fellowships, but the trade-off hits in fewer industry ties, pushing grads toward academia or nonprofits.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
2,896 undergrad • 13 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
62%
Black / African American
4%
Hispanic / Latino
8%
Asian
5%
Other / Multi-racial
20%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Oberlin, OH
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week kicks off with First Friday a cappella marathons in dorm lounges, weaves through co-op meetings where you vote on grocery budgets in one of 15 student-run houses (think vegan Shalom House or African Heritage), and caps with rallies or film fests—vibrant if you're into folk scenes and inclusivity workshops, claustrophobic if parties feel more protest than pong. Residential life buzzes with theme houses fostering niches like LGBTQ+ or eco-warriors, but the small-town vibe means weekends often mean Cleveland trains or bonfire singalongs; harsh winters and occasional activist intensity test patience, yet the co-op ethos builds lifelong crews.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
North Coast Athletic Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$13,705
$30K – $48K
$11,869
$48K – $75K
$18,195
$75K – $110K
$25,723
$110K+
$44,064
Apply for Financial Aid
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
91%
4 Years Graduation Rate
73%
6 Years Graduation Rate
82%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$58,343
91% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Oberlin College and return in the fall. 73% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 82% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
73%
4-5 years
9%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
17%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$61,106
Acceptance
34%
Undergrads
2,896
4-Year Grad Rate
73%
Endowment
$1.2B
Oberlin, OH 44074
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