Kenyon vs. Oberlin

Deciding between Kenyon 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.

Kenyon College
Oberlin College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kenyon Gambier, OH
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • Kenyon Distant Rural
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Kenyon 2,249
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • Kenyon Private 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kenyon #62
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kenyon -
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • Kenyon Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kenyon
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • Kenyon $15,640
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • Kenyon $46,859
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kenyon $40,731
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kenyon 82%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kenyon 7,726
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • Kenyon 2,397
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kenyon 31%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Kenyon 18.3%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kenyon 1430
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kenyon 32
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kenyon 3.84
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kenyon A-
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kenyon Exceptional
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kenyon High
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • Kenyon 31/33
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Kenyon 1358/1503
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kenyon Test optional
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Kenyon Jan 15, 2027
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kenyon 9:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kenyon
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kenyon $52,900
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kenyon $19,000
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kenyon $196
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kenyon 44%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • Kenyon 56%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kenyon Low
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • Kenyon No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • Kenyon 73%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • Kenyon 4%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • Kenyon 4%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kenyon 7%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • Kenyon 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kenyon 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kenyon 4%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • Kenyon 5%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kenyon 3%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kenyon 12%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kenyon 78%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kenyon College in Gambier, 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 Kenyon based on total student enrollment (2,909 students vs. 2,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Kenyon vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kenyon 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 Kenyon College than Oberlin ($46,859 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kenyon College are 19.8% lower than at Oberlin College ($15,640 vs. $19,510).
  • Kenyon College is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oberlin (about $4,154 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $67,366.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at Kenyon than at Oberlin College (about $4,154 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $67,366.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Kenyon College (99% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kenyon College students is 13.8% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($40,731 vs. $35,780).

Kenyon vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kenyon 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 Kenyon.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 10 points higher than at Kenyon (1430).
  • Incoming Kenyon 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: Kenyon College 1358/1503; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kenyon College 31/33; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kenyon - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kenyon Jan 15, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kenyon students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.2%) than Kenyon (31%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Kenyon vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Kenyon vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kenyon 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 Kenyon College's (87%).
  • Graduates from Kenyon College earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,900 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kenyon College graduates have a $7,579 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($19,000 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, Kenyon graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($196 vs. $274).
  • More Kenyon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.