Oberlin College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Oberlin College is a private institution located in Oberlin, Ohio with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Oberlin College admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 34%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1440 and an ACT composite around 32. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $38,645 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Oberlin College?

53% of enrolled students at Oberlin College had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.7, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What does Oberlin College weight in admissions?

Oberlin College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Oberlin College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 660–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 715. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Oberlin College actually cost?

Published tuition is $67,366 for in-state students and $67,366 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,510 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $38,645 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 10% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Oberlin College

Will my child graduate from Oberlin College?

These predict outcomes at Oberlin College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Oberlin College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Oberlin College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Music, Biology, General and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Oberlin College confers roughly 504 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Music program report a median income of about $32,993 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Oberlin College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Oberlin College disclosed 13 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 11 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Oberlin College?

About 93% of undergraduates at Oberlin College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Ohio parents ask about

• Denison University
  17% acceptance
• College of Wooster
  60% acceptance
• Ohio Wesleyan University
  56% acceptance
• Ohio State University-Main Campus
  61% acceptance
• University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
  85% acceptance
• Case Western Reserve University
  37% acceptance
• University of Dayton
  65% acceptance
• Miami University-Oxford
  75% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Oberlin College