Oberlin College

In the 2027 U.S. News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, Oberlin College placed 59th, continuing a downward slide from 26th in 2018. Despite this ranking movement, the college remains selective. In 2025, Oberlin accepted 34.2% of applicants, an admit rate higher than only 14% of peer schools in its comparison group of closely ranked private liberal arts colleges. This demonstrates that admissions remain tougher than at most comparable institutions. Meanwhile, the college recorded a yield rate of 19.5%, which was higher than 69% of peer schools. While this shows Oberlin commands a stronger draw over admitted applicants than many of its immediate peers, fewer than a quarter of admitted students actually enroll. For prospective applicants, these figures mean that gaining admission still demands a competitive profile, even as the college navigates a lower overall standing on national ranking lists.

Applicants considering Oberlin College need strong academic credentials, as standardized test scores among enrolled students place the institution at the very top of its peer bracket. In 2025, the median SAT score for entering undergraduates was 1450, which was higher than all peer schools in a comparison group of closely ranked private liberal arts colleges. For applicants submitting the ACT, the middle 50% of enrolled students achieved composite scores between 31 and 34. These benchmarks illustrate that enrolled students who choose to report exam results possess strong standardized testing records. At the same time, test submission has decreased substantially over the past decade, with only 32% of entering undergraduates submitting an SAT score in 2025. Prospective applicants evaluating their academic profile should recognize that while a minority submits scores, those who do generally present composite results at or above these demanding levels.

Academic offerings at Oberlin College are broadly dispersed rather than heavily clustered in a handful of subjects. In 2025, the three largest bachelor's programs represented 27% of all undergraduate degrees awarded. The single largest undergraduate field was Music Performance, General, which produced 88 graduates, underscoring the central role of its conservatory training. It was followed by Psychology, General, which stands as the institution's highest-ranked program, placing 63rd nationally in the 2027 U.S. News undergraduate psychology ranking. Thus, one of Oberlin's biggest academic departments is also its top-ranked discipline. Post-graduate compensation varies sharply by academic field. According to 2023 earnings data measured one year after graduation, alumni who majored in Computer and Information Sciences, General led all fields with median earnings of $90,376, far outperforming the humanities. For incoming students, Oberlin pairs distinctive artistic and scientific programs, though early earnings vary markedly by field.

Oberlin College enrolls an overwhelmingly undergraduate student body, with graduate enrollment comprising only a tiny fraction of the campus. In 2025, the college enrolled 2,909 students in total, primarily divided between first-year and continuing undergraduates. Among the incoming first-year class, international students accounted for 83 individuals, representing 11.9% of entering freshmen. Domestic Asian students in the same entering group totaled 26 individuals, making up 3.7% of the cohort. Across continuing undergraduates, White students form the clear majority, alongside smaller communities of international, Hispanic, and Asian peers. Transfer students and graduate cohorts remain exceptionally small, with graduate students numbering just over a dozen. Overall, the student population is centered around traditional full-time undergraduates, where international students hold a visible presence in the incoming class while domestic Asian representation remains relatively modest.

Undergraduate education at Oberlin College is dominated by students of traditional college age, while graduate enrollment is very small. In 2025, undergraduates aged 20 to 21 made up 43.8% of the undergraduate population, and those aged 18 to 19 accounted for 42.6%. With another segment aged 22 to 24, older non-traditional undergraduates are virtually absent from campus. Meanwhile, the institution enrolled only 10 graduate students, with most falling between 25 and 29 years old. This demographic profile indicates that undergraduate campus life is shared almost entirely among young peers progressing through their first degrees, alongside an exceptionally small graduate presence.

In 2025, international undergraduates comprised 9.6% of the undergraduate student body, rising from 2016 levels. This undergraduate share was higher than 67% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 closely ranked private liberal arts colleges. At the graduate level, where overall enrollment is very small, international students made up 61.5% of the cohort in 2025. Among degree recipients in 2025, international undergraduates concentrated heavily in quantitative and artistic fields. In Computer and Information Sciences, General, international students represented 27.9% of bachelor's degree recipients, followed by significant shares in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics as well as Music Performance, General. At the master's level, international graduates earned degrees in Music Technology. For prospective international applicants, Oberlin offers an established global cohort, especially within computing, economics, and musical disciplines.

Applicants exploring Oberlin College can consider several alternative institutions within the surrounding region. Located 34.8 kilometers away in Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a major research institution ranked 44th among National Universities in the 2027 rankings. For families interested in another small liberal arts setting, The College of Wooster sits 36.4 kilometers away and is ranked 91st among National Liberal Arts Colleges. Further south, Kenyon College is situated 64.1 kilometers from Oberlin, holding a rank of 41st on the national liberal arts list. Alternatively, Kent State University at Kent offers a large public campus option 46.5 kilometers away, holding a rank of 236 among National Universities.

Campus safety reports for Oberlin College show a noticeable decrease in incidents over the past decade. The weighted crime rate per 1,000 students dropped from 44.1 in 2016 to 8.6 in 2025. Disciplinary violations related to campus policies make up the vast majority of recorded occurrences. Between 2023 and 2025, the largest cumulative totals were substance violations, consisting of 86 drug disciplinary referrals and 66 alcohol disciplinary referrals. During that same three-year period, violent and property crimes occurred far less frequently, with smaller totals reported for rape, dating violence, stalking, and burglary. These records show that campus infractions primarily involve substance-related conduct policy enforcement rather than high volumes of criminal offenses. For families and students assessing campus security, Oberlin maintains a relatively low rate of serious crime, though standard personal safety precautions remain sensible.