Denison vs. Oberlin

Deciding between Denison 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.

Denison University
Oberlin College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Denison 2,394
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Denison #95
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Denison -
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Denison
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • Denison $16,400
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • Denison $43,721
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Denison $38,179
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Denison 94%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Denison 15,012
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • Denison 2,611
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Denison 1410
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Denison 31
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Denison 3.76
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Denison A-
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Denison Very High
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • Denison 30/33
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Denison Test optional
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Denison 9:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Denison 79%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Denison $56,100
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Denison 83%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Denison $26,000
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Denison $268
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Denison 48%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • Denison 52%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Denison Medium
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • Denison No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • Denison 66%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • Denison 4%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • Denison 7%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Denison 10%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • Denison 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Denison 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Denison 4%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • Denison 8%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Denison 2%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Denison 23%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Denison 58%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Oberlin College is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (2,909 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Denison University is located in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Denison University 9:1; Oberlin College 9:1.

Denison vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Denison 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 Denison University than Oberlin ($43,721 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Denison University are 15.9% lower than at Oberlin College ($16,400 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Denison (about $366 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $67,000.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at Oberlin than at Denison University (about $366 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $67,000.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Denison University (99% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 6.7% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($38,179 vs. $35,780).

Denison vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Denison 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 Denison.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 30 points higher than at Denison (1410).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Denison).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 1320/1490; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 30/33; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Denison - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Denison Jan 15, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.2%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.8% at Denison vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Denison vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Denison 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 Denison University's (79%).
  • Graduates from Denison University earn a median of about $12,200 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Denison University graduates have a $579 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, Denison graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($268 vs. $274).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.