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AlmaSpire

Oberlin, OH · Private · 2,887 undergraduates · town

Oberlin College

Selective

Oberlin places a liberal-arts college and music conservatory on one campus, with a formal five-year route for students admitted to both.

Institutional profile

Well established Strong in student experience, and strong in academic standing.
Academic Strong Affordability Emerging Career Solid Mobility Emerging Experience Strong
Academic standing Strong
Affordability Emerging
Career outcomes Solid
Mobility Emerging
Student experience Strong
Admission
33% admitted

11,039 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Varies across five income ranges

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
83.5%

$58,343 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets Oberlin College apart

Academic design

The Double Degree Program combines a College of Arts and Sciences bachelor's degree with a Conservatory Bachelor of Music over five years.

Campus pattern

College and Conservatory students share the same residential campus, organizations, facilities, and daily routines rather than occupying separate institutions.

A signature opportunity

The five-year Double Degree lets one student pursue full liberal-arts and conservatory curricula simultaneously.

Can I get in?

33% admitted

Double Degree applicants must earn admission separately to both divisions; Early Decision can bind an applicant even if only one division admits them.

Recent applicant pool

11,039

About 33 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 33%
Entering class

Academic range

SAT middle 50%1370–1510
12801600
ACT middle 50%30–33
2835

Of admitted students, 35% submitted an SAT, and 19% submitted an ACT. Because ACT scores came from few admitted students, the range describes that self-selected group rather than the full class.

Academic benchmarkSelective

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for Oberlin College, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What Oberlin College weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

The Double Degree Program combines a College of Arts and Sciences bachelor's degree with a Conservatory Bachelor of Music over five years.

02

Make institutional fit specific

Oberlin places a liberal-arts college and music conservatory on one campus, with a formal five-year route for students admitted to both.

03

Use the application route carefully

Double Degree applicants must earn admission separately to both divisions; Early Decision can bind an applicant even if only one division admits them.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Double Degree applicants must earn admission separately to both divisions; Early Decision can bind an applicant even if only one division admits them.

Early DecisionNov 1
Early Decision IIJan 5
Early ActionNov 1
Regular DecisionNov 1
Application routeInstitution application

$100 application fee

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

Performing and visual artsAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$100,000
Average annual cost after aid$39,000
Affordability profileEmerging

College funding

Scholarships and financial aid

Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.

Oberlin College publishes three merit awards, the largest reaching $20,000 a year or more. No separate scholarship application is required; the college uses the admission application. All of them renew past the first year.

Automatic consideration An award reaching $10,000 to $20,000 a year

Open across the university · Merit · Guaranteed at a stated threshold · Renews

Automatic consideration An award reaching $20,000 a year or more

Open across the university · Merit · Guaranteed at a stated threshold · Renews each year

Automatic consideration Merit scholarship

Through one school within the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews

In the season card

These three awards, by name

What each one is called, what it pays, the grades and scores it asks for, and what to send.

  • The name of each award 
  • What it pays 
  • The grades and scores it asks for 
  • How to be considered 
  • What to send, and where 
See the full read
Open financial aid plan

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at Oberlin College

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.

Complete within 8 years83.5%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one89.8%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$58,343

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Music

Recent graduates136
Median earnings$43,343

Admits separately

Economics

Recent graduates58
Median earnings$87,120

Psychology, General

Recent graduates58
Median earnings$48,109

Biology, General

Recent graduates53
Median earnings$44,095

Political Science and Government

Recent graduates51
Median earnings$70,689

What is campus life like?

Oberlin College beyond the classroom

College and Conservatory students share the same residential campus, organizations, facilities, and daily routines rather than occupying separate institutions.

Academics

A defining academic feature

The Double Degree Program combines a College of Arts and Sciences bachelor's degree with a Conservatory Bachelor of Music over five years.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

College and Conservatory students share the same residential campus, organizations, facilities, and daily routines rather than occupying separate institutions.

Signature opportunity

A reason to look closer

The five-year Double Degree lets one student pursue full liberal-arts and conservatory curricula simultaneously.

2,887 undergraduatesMidwesttown setting100% of first-year students live on campus