IU vs. Oberlin

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
Oberlin College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Oberlin College 9:1.

IU vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington than Oberlin ($17,270 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 28.3% lower than at Oberlin College ($13,984 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 454.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $55,222 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 60.8% higher at Oberlin than at Indiana University Bloomington (about $25,475 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $41,891.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Indiana University Bloomington (99% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 241.2% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($35,780 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 150 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at IU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

IU vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington's (72%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $12,300 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $4,079 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($22,500 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($232 vs. $274).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 72%)

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.