Oberlin College logoOberlin College

    Oberlin College

    Oberlin, OH · Midwest

    Acceptance rate
    34.2%
    SAT mid-50
    1360-1520
    Cost after aid
    $38,645
    Graduation rate
    81%

    What Oberlin College says matters

    How Oberlin College rates each admissions factor in its Common Data Set, with the full published numbers below.

    Acceptance rate
    34%
    3,597 of 10,529
    SAT mid-50
    1370-1500
    CDS year
    2024-25

    The full Common Data Set

    Every figure Oberlin College published for 2024-25, section by section.

    First-Time, First-Year Admission53

    Applications

    Total first-time, first-year students who applied
    10,529
    Total first-time, first-year students who were admitted
    3,597
    Total first-time, first-year who applied
    674
    Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
    200
    Total first-time, first-year who applied
    6,265
    Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
    3,008
    Total first-time, first-year who applied
    3,590
    Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
    389

    Admissions Requirements

    Total academic units
    20.0
    English
    4.0
    Mathematics
    4.0
    Science
    3.0
    Foreign language
    3.0
    Social studies
    3.0

    First-time, first-year Profile

    Submitting SAT Scores
    0.31
    Submitting SAT Scores
    221
    SAT Composite: 25th Percentile
    1,370
    SAT Composite: 50th Percentile
    1,440
    SAT Composite: 75th Percentile
    1,500
    SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 25th Percentile
    700
    SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 50th Percentile
    740
    SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 75th Percentile
    760
    SAT Math: 25th Percentile
    660
    SAT Math: 50th Percentile
    710
    SAT Math: 75th Percentile
    760
    SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 700-800
    80
    SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 600-699
    19
    SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 500-599
    1
    SAT Math: 700-800
    58
    SAT Math: 600-699
    37
    SAT Math: 500-599
    5
    SAT Composite: 1400-1600
    70
    SAT Composite: 1200-1399
    29
    SAT Composite: 1000-1199
    1
    SAT Composite: 400-599
    100
    ACT Composite: 30-36
    89
    ACT Composite: 24-29
    10
    ACT Composite: 18-23
    1
    ACT Composite: Below 6
    100
    Percent who had GPA below 1.0
    89%
    Percent who had GPA below 1.0
    11%
    Percent who had GPA of 4.0
    11%
    Percent who had GPA between 3.75 and 3.99
    42%
    Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.74
    25%
    Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.49
    14%
    Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.24
    6.0%
    Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.99
    2.0%
    Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.49
    0
    Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.99
    0
    Percent who had GPA below 1.0
    0
    Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school GPA:
    89%

    Admission Policies

    Application closing date (fall)
    1
    Priority Date
    15
    Transfer Admission7

    Application for Admission

    Interview
    Not Required
    Standardized test scores
    Not Required
    List any other application requirements specific to transfer applicants:
    ##
    Fall
    1
    Winter
    15
    Fall
    11
    Winter
    15
    Annual Expenses10

    Private Tuition

    Tuition
    68340.00
    Tuition
    68340.00

    All Institutions Expenses

    Required Fees:
    1092.00
    Food and housing (on-campus):
    20096.00
    Housing Only (on-campus):
    9970.00
    Food Only (on-campus meal plan):
    10126.00
    Required Fees:
    1092.00
    Food and housing (on-campus):
    20096.00
    Housing Only (on-campus):
    9970.00
    Food Only (on-campus meal plan):
    10126.00
    Financial Aid10

    Students Awarded Non-need-based Aid

    N. Number of students in line a who had no financial need and who were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid (exclude those who were awarded athletic awards and tuition benefits)
    315
    O. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based scholarship and grant aid awarded to students in line n
    25,820
    Q. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based athletic scholarships and grants awarded to students in line p
    0
    N. Number of students in line a who had no financial need and who were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid (exclude those who were awarded athletic awards and tuition benefits)
    1,086
    O. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based scholarship and grant aid awarded to students in line n
    22,568
    Q. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based athletic scholarships and grants awarded to students in line p
    0

    Methodology

    Both FM and IM
    2580710.00

    Need-based Aid Awarded

    Federal
    230600.00
    Athletic Awards
    0.00

    Non-need-based Aid Awarded

    Federal
    0.00
    Disciplinary Areas of Degrees Conferred5

    Bachelors

    Communication/journalism
    9
    Computer and information sciences
    3.9
    Science technologies
    3
    Social sciences
    11.4
    History
    5
    Enrollment And Persistence9

    Institutional Enrollment

    Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: men
    279
    Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: women
    10
    Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: another gender
    881
    Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: unknown
    1,170
    Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: women
    417
    Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: another gender
    18
    Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: unknown
    1,259
    Other first-year, degree-seeking: men
    1,694
    Total undergraduate students: another gender
    5
    Instructional Faculty And Class Size1

    Undergraduate Class Size

    20-29
    420
    Source: Oberlin College's Common Data Set 2024-25

    About Oberlin College

    Oberlin College is a very small private university in Oberlin, OH, in a city setting.

    What Oberlin College looks for

    With an acceptance rate around 34%, the application readers spend less time per file than they do at the most selective schools, but they still read. A solid GPA, strong letters, and an essay that sounds like you wrote it yourself go a long way here. The biggest unforced error: a generic supplement essay. Even moderately selective schools notice when you have not bothered to learn anything about them.

    Frequently asked

    • What SAT score do I need for Oberlin College?

      Oberlin College's middle 50% SAT range is 1360 to 1520. A score in or above that band keeps you in the conversation; below it, the rest of your application has to do more work.

    • What ACT score do I need for Oberlin College?

      Middle 50% ACT range is 31 to 34. The top of that range or above is what most admitted students submit when they choose to send a score.

    • What is the acceptance rate at Oberlin College?

      Oberlin College admits roughly 34% of applicants. Selective, but stats inside the middle 50% put you in real contention.

    • What does Oberlin College actually cost after financial aid?

      Average net cost (after institutional aid) is about $38,645 per year. Net cost varies enormously by family income; run the school's net price calculator for an estimate that reflects your situation.

    • Is Oberlin College a reach, match, or safety for me?

      Compare your stats to the middle 50% above. If you are at or below the 25th percentile, treat Oberlin College as a reach. If you are in the middle 50%, it is a match. Above the 75th percentile and the school accepts above 25% overall, it is closer to a safety. Selectivity below 20% should be treated as a reach for everyone, period.

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