Butler vs. Oberlin

Deciding between Butler University and Oberlin College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Butler University
Oberlin College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • Butler Large City
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Butler 5,746
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Butler #209
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Butler -
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • Butler Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Butler
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • Butler $16,430
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • Butler $38,438
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Butler $27,790
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Butler 97%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Butler 9,471
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • Butler 8,058
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Butler 85.1%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Butler 12.9%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Butler 1260
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Butler 28
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Butler 3.92
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Butler A
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Butler Difficult
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Butler
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • Butler 26/31
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Butler 1160/1350
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Butler Test optional
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Butler 11:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Butler 72%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Butler $68,400
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Butler 84%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Butler $27,000
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Butler $279
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Butler 38%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • Butler 62%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Butler Very Low
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • Butler No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • Butler 82%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • Butler 3%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • Butler 4%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Butler 4%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • Butler 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Butler 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Butler 2%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • Butler 1%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Butler 4%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Butler 51%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Butler 48%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Butler Yes
  • Oberlin Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Butler Yes
  • Oberlin No
  • Meal Plan
  • Butler Yes
  • Oberlin Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Butler No
  • Oberlin No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Butler No
  • Oberlin No

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Butler University is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (5,746 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Butler University 11:1; Oberlin College 9:1.

Butler vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Butler or Oberlin? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Butler University than Oberlin ($38,438 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Butler University are 15.8% lower than at Oberlin College ($16,430 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 41.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Butler (about $19,806 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.6% higher at Oberlin than at Butler University (about $19,806 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Butler University (99% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 28.8% larger than aid received by Butler University students ($35,780 vs. $27,790).

Butler vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Butler or Oberlin? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Oberlin and Butler.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 180 points higher than at Butler (1260).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Butler).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 1160/1350; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 26/31; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Butler - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Butler students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Butler has a higher acceptance rate (85.1%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Butler vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Butler and Oberlin? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Butler University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Butler University earn a median of about $24,500 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,400 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Oberlin College graduates have a $421 lower median loan debt than Butler graduates ($26,579 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Oberlin graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Butler graduates ($274 vs. $279).
  • More Butler graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.