Oberlin College
#6 Best Computer Science Colleges in Ohio- Graduation Rate
- 80% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $58,343 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $38,645 F
- 126% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 34% A
- Admits roughly 34% — highly selective
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 13.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.8 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Computer Science Colleges in Ohio.
Every $1 spent returns $13.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,977,845.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Earnings 43% above the national college median.
-
A 80% graduation rate — 40% above the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $13.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.5%
- Top 43%
- Patents
- 12
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 34
- Downstream influence
Why Oberlin College Matters
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 2,887
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology
Why students choose Oberlin College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 34% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1360–1520. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $38,645 a year after grants and scholarships — 126% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $58,343 ten years after enrolling — 43% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 62% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.81 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Oberlin College, with its enrollment of nearly 2,900 students, is an excellent fit for those passionate about the arts and sciences. If you’re drawn to fields like Visual and Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Biology, Psychology, or English, this might be the place for you. The acceptance rate is 34%, which means it attracts a selective group of students who are eager to engage in a vibrant academic community.
Life after graduation looks promising for Oberlin alumni, who earn an average of $58,343 a decade after finishing their degrees. This figure indicates that many graduates find fulfilling careers, although specific mobility data isn’t available. It’s worth noting that financial aid can make a significant difference, as only 10% of students receive Pell Grants, suggesting a diverse socioeconomic background among the student body.
When it comes to the practical side of attending Oberlin, the net price after aid is about $38,645, with a median debt load of $26,000. This financial scenario points to a manageable investment in education, especially for those who thrive in creative and intellectually stimulating environments. Students who do well here often value a close-knit community and a commitment to personal growth alongside academic achievement.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Oberlin College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Oberlin College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Oberlin College, located in Oberlin, Ohio, reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 34%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,447. The graduation rate is roughly 80%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 34%
- Retention Rate
- 91%
- SAT Average
- 1447
- ACT Midpoint
- 32
- SAT Range
- 1360–1520
- ACT Range
- 31–34
- Full-Time Faculty
- 79%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,232
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 9%
- Applicants
- 11,066
- Admitted
- 3,859
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Oberlin College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Oberlin College is $67,366, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $38,645. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,774 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $67,366
- Out-of-State
- $67,366
- Avg Net Price
- $38,645
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 10%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 31%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,774
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,799
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $22,123
- Family Income $110K+
- $48,731
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Oberlin College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Oberlin College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Oberlin College earn a median of $58,343, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $38,871
- 8 Years
- $46,579
- 10 Years
- $58,343
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.45x
- Earning > $25K
- 53%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (613)
- 77%
- 100% (613)
- 77%
- 100% (613)
- 77%
- 100% (613)
- 77%
How Oberlin Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Oberlin College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Oberlin College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $38,645/year ($154,580 total). Graduates earn $58,343 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,132,425 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,977,845 (13.8× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 80% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $154,580
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,132,425
- Net Return
- $1,977,845
- ROI Multiple
- 13.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $38,645
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 80%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Oberlin College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Oberlin College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.25%, well above the typical college. About 4.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 29.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $127,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.25%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 29.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $172,684
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Oberlin College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 12 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.55%
- Top 43% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 12
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 34
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $8,102,736
- Investment Income
- $-71,161,629
Top Programs
The fields Oberlin College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 27%
- Social Sciences 13%
- Biology & Biomedical 11%
- Psychology 8% $25,556 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6%
- English & Literature 5%
- Physical Sciences 4%
- Mathematics & Statistics 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Oberlin College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Oberlin College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Oberlin College, located in Oberlin, Ohio, reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 34%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,447. The graduation rate is roughly 80%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Oberlin College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Oberlin College is $67,366, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $38,645. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,774 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is Oberlin College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Oberlin College earn a median of $58,343, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Oberlin College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Oberlin College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.25%, well above the typical college. About 4.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 29.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $127,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Oberlin College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Oberlin College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.81, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 20% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Compare Oberlin College
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Oberlin College.
- Rollins CollegeWinter Park, FL · Close peer76% grad $58,295 earn 48% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Spelman CollegeAtlanta, GA · Close peer77% grad $59,993 earn 25% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Dickinson CollegeCarlisle, PA · Close peer82% grad $70,204 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Macalester CollegeSaint Paul, MN · Close peer89% grad $63,878 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Endicott CollegeBeverly, MA · Close peer76% grad $58,336 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Mount Holyoke CollegeSouth Hadley, MA · Close peer85% grad $58,418 earn 36% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Oberlin College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Oberlin College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.81, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 20% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note