Franklin W Olin College of Engineering: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Needham, Massachusetts · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2023-2024
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2023-2024
- Test-blind
- 928
- Applicants
- 201
- Admitted22%
- 98
- Enrolled
- 49%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Highly selective22% admittedRanked #2 in Regional Colleges North; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #6 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2023-2024 Common Data Set published by Franklin W Olin College of Engineering (see the source), read on 2026-09-16.
Is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Franklin W Olin College of Engineering against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is a private nonprofit university in Needham, Massachusetts that admits about 22% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $25,171 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Engineering, General, Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 92% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is a private institution located in Needham, Massachusetts and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 22%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1530 and an ACT composite around 35. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $25,171 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
87% of enrolled students at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2023-2024 Common Data Set.
Compare Franklin W Olin College of Engineering with the other schools on your list
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What does Franklin W Olin College of Engineering weight in admissions?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2023-2024). What the weights mean
Very Important
9- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Level of applicant's interest
Important
3- Class rank
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Considered
4- Standardized test scores
- First generation status
- Geographical residence
- State residency
Not Considered
2- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Franklin W Olin College of Engineering typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 770–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 755. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1500 |
| 50th percentile | 1530 |
| 75th percentile | 1560 |
| % submitting SAT | % |
| 25th percentile | 34 |
| 50th percentile | 35 |
| 75th percentile | 35 |
| % submitting ACT | % |
- • Test-blind: Franklin W Olin College of Engineering does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Policy detail: Not considered
How much does Franklin W Olin College of Engineering actually cost?
Published tuition is $66,398 for in-state students and $66,398 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $20,810 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $25,171 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 12% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $59,972 |
| Room and board | $19,820 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $25,171 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $85 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
| Regular deadline | 1/1 |
Will my child graduate from Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
These predict outcomes at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
The most popular undergraduate programs at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Engineering, General, Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Across all programs, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering confers roughly 72 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Engineering, General program report a median income of about $128,427 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering, General | 38 | $128,427 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 19 | n/a |
| Mechanical Engineering | 15 | $106,657 |
Is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Franklin W Olin College of Engineering disclosed 1 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 1 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in Massachusetts parents ask about
- Harvard University4% acceptance
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology5% acceptance
- Boston University11% acceptance
- Boston College16% acceptance
- Tufts University11% acceptance
- University of Massachusetts-Amherst60% acceptance
- University of Massachusetts-Boston84% acceptance
- Northeastern University5% acceptance
Next steps for Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Common questions parents ask about Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
What GPA do I need for Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
87% of enrolled students at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2023-2024 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Franklin W Olin College of Engineering typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 770–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 755.
How much does Franklin W Olin College of Engineering actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering after grants and scholarships is $25,171 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $66,398. Budget against the net figure.
Is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering realistic for my child?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering admits 22% of applicants, so 770–790 SAT Math is target range and below 770 is a reach. Then check the $25,171 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering accepts about 22% of applicants out of roughly 928 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering test-optional?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is test-blind: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
About 92% of students at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering graduate within six years. 99% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Franklin W Olin College of Engineering look for in applicants?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering rates course rigor, GPA, the application essay and recommendations as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering a public or private school, and where is it located?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is a private nonprofit institution located in Needham, Massachusetts.
What are the most popular majors at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
The largest undergraduate majors at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering by annual graduates are Engineering, General, Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. The school awards about 72 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering reported 1 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2023-2024 Common Data Set submitted by Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers