Davidson vs. Oberlin

Comparable Facts

Compare Davidson College in Davidson, NC with Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oberlin College is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (2,909 students vs. 1,869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; Oberlin College 9:1.

Davidson vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Davidson 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 Davidson College than Oberlin ($27,720 vs. $51,624).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 12.4% lower than at Oberlin College ($17,100 vs. $19,510).
• Oberlin College is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Davidson (about $2,956 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at Oberlin than at Davidson College (about $2,956 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Davidson College (99% vs. 65%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 44.6% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($51,755 vs. $35,780).

Davidson vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Davidson 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 Davidson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Davidson College (1470) is 30 points higher than at Oberlin (1440).
• Incoming Davidson students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at Oberlin (32).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 1400/1530; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 31/34; Oberlin College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Davidson - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Davidson students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
• Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.2%) than Davidson (13.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Davidson vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Davidson 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).

• Davidson College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Oberlin College's (88%).
• Graduates from Davidson College earn a median of about $19,600 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($63,500 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $9,579 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($17,000 vs. $26,579).
• Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $99 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($175 vs. $274).
• More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.