True College Verdict
C

Oberlin College

Oberlin, OH · 2,887 undergraduates · 13% receive Pell Grants · admits 34%
Private nonprofitMainly bachelor's degrees

About average. It ranks 656 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 56.7 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $41,987 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
Yes
82% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Mixed
Graduates owe a typical $25,488 against earnings of $60,877, a ratio of 0.42. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Oberlin College. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

  • 82% of students graduate, better than 89% of four-year colleges.
  • Students stay: 91% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 87% of four-year colleges.

Why it is bad

  • Debt is heavy for the pay: graduates owe a typical $25,488 in federal loans against earnings of $60,877.
  • Expensive: the average student pays about $41,987 a year after grants, more than at 96% of four-year colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
82%
Better than 89% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
91%
Better than 87% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$60,877
Better than 57% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$25,488
Better than 31% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$41,987
Better than 4% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$69,482
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Music136$19,531$27,000
Psychology, General58$21,508$24,522
Economics58$41,205$23,250
Biology, General53$23,456$23,625
Political Science and Government51$29,685$19,500
Natural Resources Conservation and Research49$21,508$25,000
History45n/a$25,250
Fine and Studio Arts38$18,771$25,989
Mathematics36n/an/a
Area Studies35$16,345$24,125
Computer and Information Sciences, General34$76,460n/a
Neurobiology and Neurosciences28$27,750$21,500

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Oberlin College, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.