# Otterbein University

Private nonprofit college in Westerville, OH. IPEDS ID 204936.
Source page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/otterbein-university · Data: https://educationguide.com/data/colleges/otterbein-university.json · Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score

## Key numbers
- Acceptance rate: 85% (Fall 2024, College Scorecard)
- Average net price after grants: $19,237 per year (AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25)
- Graduation rate (6 years): 68%; beats 82% of OH colleges and 75% nationwide
- Median earnings 10 years after starting: $53,313; beats 61% of OH colleges and 50% nationwide
- Median debt at graduation: $20,500

## Net price by family income (per year, after grants)
| Family income | Net price |
|---|---|
| 0-30k | $12,458 |
| 30-48k | $12,659 |
| 48-75k | $16,478 |
| 75-110k | $23,061 |
| 110k+ | $24,620 |

Average after grants for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid. Negative values mean grants exceed cost.

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
Graduates took 4.15 years on average (60% finished in 4 years; Fall 2017 entrants, IPEDS). Earnings gain = $53,313 (median earnings of former students 10 years after starting college (College Scorecard)) minus $35,438 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in OH (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $12,458 | $51,701 | 2.9 years |
| 30-48k | $12,659 | $52,535 | 2.9 years |
| 48-75k | $16,478 | $68,384 | 3.8 years |
| 75-110k | $23,061 | $95,703 | 5.4 years |
| 110k+ | $24,620 | $102,173 | 5.7 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Sticker price
- Cost of attendance: $48,321
- Tuition and fees: $35,548
- Housing and meals: $12,968; books: $1,508

## Admissions
- SAT reading & writing: not reported; SAT math: not reported; ACT: 22–28 (25th–75th percentile, Fall 2024)
- Fall 2023: 3,498 applicants, 2,914 admitted, 519 enrolled; test scores considered but not required
- Fall 2024: acceptance 85%, ACT 22–28 (College Scorecard)
- Fall 2023: acceptance 83%, ACT 23–28 (IPEDS Admissions)

## Majors (56 bachelor's majors)
| Major | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | $69,287 | $80,188 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration | $44,689 | $70,328 | $26,247 |
| Health Sciences | $30,581 | $62,364 | $27,000 |
| Public Relations and Advertising | $37,430 | $58,065 | $23,800 |
| Communications | $31,207 | $51,006 | $18,500 |
| Psychology | $29,604 | $49,090 | $25,210 |
| Education (Elementary / Secondary) | $38,651 | $47,383 | $26,000 |
| Kinesiology / Exercise Science | $31,851 | $46,521 | $25,000 |
| Biology | $24,341 | $42,619 | $26,000 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $19,801 | $41,121 | $25,850 |
| Theatre | $12,546 | $38,023 | $26,822 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Agriculture / Veterinary Preparatory Programs | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Veterinary / Animal Health Technologies / Technicians | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Environmental Science / Conservation | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Ethnic / Gender Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Computer and Information Sciences | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Education | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Special Education | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Education (Subject Teaching) | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Engineering Physics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Environmental Engineering | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Mechanical Engineering | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Systems Engineering | $63,243 | not reported | $27,000 |
| Spanish / French / Romance Languages | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| English | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Writing | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| English Language and Literature / Letters, Other | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Liberal Arts / General Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Biochemistry | not reported | not reported | $23,926 |
| Mathematics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Sustainability Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Philosophy and Religious Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Philosophy | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Chemistry | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Physics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Public Administration | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Criminology | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Economics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| International Relations | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Political Science | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Sociology | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Studio Art | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Music | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health (Imaging / Therapy / Tech) | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Public Health | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Accounting | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Business / Corporate Communications | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Finance | $55,364 | not reported | $25,600 |
| Human Resources | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| International Business | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Management Science / Analytics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Marketing | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| History | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Major to career
- Nursing → Registered nurse: median wage $83,900 (Columbus, OH), $82,510 (OH), $97,550 (U.S.)
- Public Relations and Advertising → Public relations specialist: median wage $73,280 (Columbus, OH), $64,840 (OH), $74,750 (U.S.)

## Sources and years
- Net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; cost of attendance: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; tuition: AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; earnings: Treasury AY2009-10, AY2010-11 pooled cohort measured in CY2020, CY2021, inflation adjusted to 2022 dollars; debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
- Major earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars

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