AU vs. Oberlin

Should I go to American University or Oberlin College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Oberlin is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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American University vs. Oberlin College comparison
American University Oberlin College College 3 College 4
American University Oberlin College
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Overview

AU Oberlin
Location Washington, DC Oberlin, OH
Setting Large City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 13,885 2,992
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #148
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu oberlin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Oberlin
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $61,106
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $61,106
Room & Board $15,706 $18,390
Avg Net Price $41,369 $46,462
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $35,040
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 98%

Admission

AU Oberlin
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 11,066
Admitted 7,926 3,859
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 34.9%
Enrolled % 22.2% 22.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 29/32 30/33
SAT Range 1290/1430 1360/1530
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

AU Oberlin
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)

Outcomes

AU Oberlin
Graduation Rate 77% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $43,900
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $26,579
Median Loan Payment $250 $274

Diversity

AU Oberlin
% Men 37% 41%
% Women 63% 59%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 58% 68%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 7% 8%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

AU Oberlin
% In-State 2% 6%
% Out-of-State 94% 84%

Campus

AU Oberlin
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 2,992 students)

AU vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Oberlin?

  • Oberlin College is 15.1% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($61,106.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.1% higher at Oberlin than American University ($61,106.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American University than Oberlin ($41,369 vs. $46,462)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 17.1% lower than costs at Oberlin College ($15,706 vs. $18,390)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Oberlin College than American University (98% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 29.1% larger than aid received American University ($35,040 vs. $27,138)

AU vs. Oberlin Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Oberlin? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Oberlin or AU .

  • The average SAT score at Oberlin College (1357) is 105 points higher than at AU (1252)
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at AU (28)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Oberlin (3.67)
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (40.6%) than Oberlin (34.9%)

AU vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Oberlin? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Oberlin and AU.

  • The graduation rate at Oberlin is higher than American University (88% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $20,900 more per year than Oberlin graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $43,900)
  • American University students graduate with a $2,329 lower median federal student loan debt than Oberlin graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,579)
  • AU graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Oberlin graduates. ($250 vs. $274)
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/