Brandeis University vs. Olin College

Should I go to Brandeis University or Olin College of Engineering? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Brandeis University or Olin College 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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Brandeis University vs. Olin College of Engineering comparison
Brandeis University Olin College of Engineering College 3 College 4
Brandeis University Olin College of Engineering
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Overview

Brandeis University Olin College
Location Waltham, MA Needham, MA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,302 402
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #102
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website brandeis.edu olin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Brandeis University Olin College
Tuition (In State) $64,348 $59,972
Tuition (Out of State) $64,348 $59,972
Room & Board $19,096 $19,820
Avg Net Price $44,668 $40,370
Avg Grant Aid $37,489 $41,116
% Receiving Grant Aid 68% 100%

Admission

Brandeis University Olin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,282 928
Admitted 3,984 201
Acceptance Rate 35.3% 21.7%
Enrolled % 21.7% 48.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition High Very High
ACT Range 31/34 34/35
SAT Range 1390/1530 1480/1560
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 1, 2026

Academics

Brandeis University Olin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Engineering (100%)

Outcomes

Brandeis University Olin College
Graduation Rate 91% 96%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,700 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 82% -
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $14,710
Median Loan Payment $279 $152

Diversity

Brandeis University Olin College
% Men 14% 4%
% Women 17% 3%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 47% 53%
% Black 5% 0%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 20% 8%
% Unknown Race 5% 11%

Students

Brandeis University Olin College
% In-State 24% 12%
% Out-of-State 57% 79%

Campus

Brandeis University Olin College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Brandeis University is larger than than Olin College based on total student enrollment (5,302 students vs. 402 students)

Brandeis University vs. Olin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Brandeis University or Olin College?

  • Brandeis University is 7.3% more expensive to attend than Olin College for in-state tuition ($64,348.00 vs. $59,972.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.3% higher at Brandeis University than Olin College of Engineering ($64,348.00 vs. $59,972.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Olin College of Engineering than Brandeis University ($40,370 vs. $44,668)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brandeis University are 3.8% lower than costs at Olin College of Engineering ($19,096 vs. $19,820)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Olin College of Engineering than Brandeis University (100% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Olin College of Engineering students is 9.7% larger than aid received Brandeis University ($41,116 vs. $37,489)

Brandeis University vs. Olin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Olin College of Engineering (1506) is 146 points higher than at Brandeis University (1360)
  • Incoming Olin College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Brandeis University (31)
  • Accepted freshman Olin College students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Brandeis University (3.84)
  • Brandeis University has a higher acceptance rate (35.3%) than Olin College (21.7%)

Brandeis University vs. Olin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Brandeis University or Olin College? 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 Olin College and Brandeis University.

  • The graduation rate at Olin College is higher than Brandeis University (96% vs. 91%)
  • Olin College of Engineering students graduate with a $12,290 lower median federal student loan debt than Brandeis University graduates. ($14,710 vs. $27,000)
  • Olin College graduates are paying $127 less per month on federal student loans than Brandeis University graduates. ($152 vs. $279)

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