More selective than 97% of Ohio colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
35% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 19% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Oberlin College over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
What Oberlin College weighs when deciding
How much each part of an application counts for first-year applicants, as Oberlin College reports it. Programs with their own criteria (nursing, music, honors) can weigh things differently.
- Rigor of high school courses
- Class rank
- High school GPA
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- Interview
- First-generation college student
- Alumni relation (legacy)
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Your demonstrated interest
- Where you live
- State residency
- Religious affiliation
Item C7. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
High school GPA of Oberlin College first-year students
Share of fall 2025 first-year students in each high school GPA range; the average was 3.60. Colleges report GPAs as they record them, weighted or not.
86% of first-year students reported a high school GPA.
Items C11-C12; enrolled students, not admitted students. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
39% of early decision applicants were admitted (263 of 668). Admitted students must enroll.
You hear early and can still apply elsewhere.
968 offered a spot, 460 took it, 33 admitted.
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Oberlin College SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Oberlin College is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 700 | 760 |
| SAT math | 660 | 760 |
| ACT composite | 31 | 34 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1360 | 1520 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Oberlin College admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 34% | 700–760 | 660–760 | 31–34 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 33% | 700–760 | 670–750 | 30–33 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Oberlin College compared with other Ohio colleges?
Oberlin College has the 3rd-lowest acceptance rate of 62 Ohio colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denison University | 17% | 79% | $40,007 |
| 2 | Kenyon College | 31% | 82% | $38,512 |
| 3 | Oberlin College | 34% | 81% | $38,645 |
| 4 | Art Academy of Cincinnati | 34% | 41% | $34,253 |
| 5 | Case Western Reserve University | 37% | 87% | $41,190 |
| 6 | Ohio Christian University | 38% | 34% | $20,607 |
| 7 | Wilberforce University | 41% | 12% | $5,567 |
| 8 | Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science | 46% | 73% | $19,622 |
| 9 | Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | 46% | 53% | $24,204 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Ohio colleges →
Who enrolls at Oberlin College
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Oberlin College admissions questions
What is the Oberlin College acceptance rate?
Oberlin College accepts 34% of applicants, about 1 in 3. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 3,641 of 11,039 applicants were admitted.
Does Oberlin College require the SAT or ACT?
Oberlin College considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 35% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 19% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Oberlin College?
The middle 50% of Oberlin College enrolled first-year students scored 1360–1520 on the SAT and 31–34 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Oberlin College?
21% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (779 of 3,641).
What does Oberlin College look for in applicants?
Oberlin College reports these as very important for first-year applicants: rigor of high school courses, class rank, high school GPA. Important: essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent or ability, character and personal qualities. Considered: interview, first-generation college student, alumni relation (legacy), volunteer work, work experience, your demonstrated interest. (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Does Oberlin College have early decision?
Yes. Oberlin College offers binding early decision; 39% of early decision applicants were admitted for fall 2025 (263 of 668). It also offers non-binding early action.
How many students get off the Oberlin College waitlist?
For fall 2025, 968 applicants were offered a waitlist spot, 460 accepted one and 33 were admitted (7% of those who stayed on the list).
Is Oberlin College getting harder to get into?
Oberlin College accepted 34% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 33% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; Oberlin College's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Oberlin College overview