Earlham vs. Oberlin

Deciding between Earlham College 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.

Earlham College
Oberlin College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Earlham Richmond, IN
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • Earlham Distant Town
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Earlham 753
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • Earlham Private 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Earlham
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Earlham Friends
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • Earlham Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Earlham
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Earlham $53,930
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Earlham $53,930
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • Earlham $13,985
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • Earlham $27,107
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Earlham $40,618
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Earlham 100%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Earlham 2,075
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • Earlham 1,517
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Earlham 73.1%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Earlham 13.9%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Earlham 1200
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Earlham 28
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Earlham 3.67
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Earlham A-
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Earlham Difficult
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Earlham Low
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • Earlham 24/33
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Earlham 1110/1290
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Earlham Test optional
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Earlham Mar 1, 2027
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Earlham 7:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Earlham
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Biology (17%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Earlham 66%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Earlham $39,100
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Earlham 75%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Earlham $26,000
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Earlham $268
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Earlham 47%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • Earlham 53%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Earlham High
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • Earlham No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • Earlham 51%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • Earlham 5%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • Earlham 12%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Earlham 6%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • Earlham 1%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Earlham 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Earlham 0%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • Earlham 22%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Earlham 2%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Earlham 39%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Earlham 41%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Oberlin College is larger than Earlham based on total student enrollment (2,909 students vs. 753 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Earlham College is located in Richmond, IN (Distant Town setting); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Earlham College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Earlham College 7:1; Oberlin College 9:1.

Earlham vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Earlham 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 Earlham College than Oberlin ($27,107 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Earlham College are 28.3% lower than at Oberlin College ($13,985 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 24.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Earlham (about $13,436 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $53,930.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.9% higher at Oberlin than at Earlham College (about $13,436 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $53,930.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Earlham College than at Oberlin College (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Earlham College students is 13.5% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($40,618 vs. $35,780).

Earlham vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Earlham 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 Earlham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 240 points higher than at Earlham (1200).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Earlham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 1110/1290; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 24/33; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Earlham - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Earlham Mar 1, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Earlham students have the same average high school GPA (3.67) as students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Earlham has a higher acceptance rate (73.1%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Earlham vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Earlham vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Earlham 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 Earlham College's (66%).
  • Graduates from Oberlin College earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than Earlham graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,900 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Earlham College graduates have a $579 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, Earlham graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($268 vs. $274).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Earlham students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 75%)

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.