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Colleges / Oberlin College

Oberlin College

Oberlin, OH 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate34%
Acceptance Rate34%

Oberlin College Admissions

Check in with Oberlin College's admissions department for any important information, including application fees.

Students who apply to Oberlin College for the fall semester should receive an admissions decision no later than April 1.

Oberlin College Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Oberlin College's admissions stats.

Oberlin College 2022 Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA 3.7
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class 54%
Admissions Test Policy Not optional and are considered
Applicants Who Submit SATs 34%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs 22%
Waitlist Yes

Oberlin College Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Oberlin College.

Application Type Offered Application Deadline Notification Deadline
Early Decision I Info Not Available –– January 5
Early Decision II Yes February 1 February 15
Early Action No –– ––
Regular Decision Yes January 15 April 1

Applying Early to Oberlin College?


Oberlin College may or may not offer early admission, however the school has not provided any application information. Check with Oberlin College directly for more information about early applications.

🗓️ Early Decision II applications are due February 1. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before February 15.

➡️ See a list of some competetive colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.


More on Oberlin College Admissions


How To Get Into Oberlin College

Oberlin College is a very difficult school to get into.

In 2021, Oberlin College accepted 34% of all applicants, around 3,639 from 10,597 applicants.

Schools that are very difficult to get into, like Oberlin College, accept fewer than 60% of all applicants. At least 50% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT and over 26 on the ACT.

Transferring to Oberlin College

Transfer student admissions is very difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to Oberlin College

Oberlin College has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Oberlin College?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are are most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that put the most emphasis on the areas where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at Oberlin College

Wondering what factors are considered by Oberlin College during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor Level
Academic GPA Very Important
Class Rank Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record Very Important
Standardized Test Scores Very Important
Alumni/ae Relations Important
Character/Personal Qualities Important
Application Essay Important
First Generation Important
Recommendation(s) Important
Talent/Ability Important
Work Experience Considered
Extracurricular Activities Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest Considered
Interview Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status Considered
Volunteer Work Considered

Make sure to check with Oberlin College for more information on admission factors.

Oberlin College Application Requirements

To apply to Oberlin College, all applicants must submit the following items. Check in with Oberlin College's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area Required Recommended Required for Some Details (If Any)
Interview
Other Requirements audition for the Conservatory of Music, detailed portfolio for homeschooled students
Transcript(S) of College Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Letter(s) of Recommendation 2
Written Essay or Personal Statement
Transcript of High School Record

GPA and Testing


What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Oberlin College?

Students admitted to Oberlin College have an average unweighted GPA of 3.7.

Out of all students that were admitted, 25% submitted a class rank. At Oberlin College 54% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 81% were in the top 25% and 98% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Oberlin College, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA Percent of Students
4.0 GPA 11%
3.75 and 3.99 37.9%
3.50 and 3.74 24%
3.25 and 3.49 18%
3.00 and 3.24 6.8%
2.50 and 2.9 2.1%
2.00 and 2.49 0.2%

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Oberlin College directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Oberlin College considers ACT or SAT scores as part of the admissions process.

Oberlin College is not test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 34% of Oberlin College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 22% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Oberlin College?

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Oberlin College students scored 710 or higher and 75% of students scored 680 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Oberlin College students scored 750 or higher, and 75% scored a 680 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for Oberlin College?

To be most competitive at Oberlin College, you should strive to earn between 30 and 34 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 34 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Oberlin College's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 34, and three out of four students scored lower than 34 on the ACT.

A 30 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Oberlin College students. Only one out of every four students scored below 30.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to Oberlin College

For transfer students, it is very difficult to get admitted to Oberlin College.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is November 15.

Transfer students can enroll in Oberlin College during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term


Oberlin College Admissions FAQs


Can I defer my acceptance to Oberlin College?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Oberlin College.

Does Oberlin College accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Oberlin College accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Oberlin College?

✅ Oberlin College is not test optional. You must submit test scores as part of the application.

What is Oberlin College's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for Oberlin College is 34%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Oberlin College?

🟨 Oberlin College may or may not offer early decision. The school has not provided any information on early decision including ED acceptance rates.

Want To Learn More About Oberlin College?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

See what others say about Oberlin College in the College Confidential forums

Explore other colleges in Ohio or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.

Oberlin College Admissions Requirements

Admission Difficulty

Very Selective

34%

How hard is it to get into Oberlin College? Oberlin College is a very selective institution. The Oberlin College acceptance rate is 34%. This means that the institution accepts 34 out of every 100 applicants.

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Oberlin College Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Jan 15

Transfer Applications are Due

Nov 15

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Oberlin College is Jan 15.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Oberlin College is Nov 15.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

Oberlin College ACT Scores

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ACT Range

30 - 34

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

ACT Score

Estimated Chance

34 and Above

Good

30 to 34

Avg

30 and Less

Low

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Oberlin College SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

Not available

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Math SAT Range

658 - 710

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Reading SAT Range

680 - 750

Oberlin College GPA

Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)

3.67

GPA Needed to Get Accepted

At Oberlin College, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.67. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

2,955

Campus Setting

Small Town

Acceptance Rate

34%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$60,284

Out-of-State

$60,284

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 15
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