MHC vs. Oberlin

Deciding between Mount Holyoke 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.

Mount Holyoke College
Oberlin College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oberlin College is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (2,909 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Oberlin College 9:1.

MHC vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC 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 Mount Holyoke College than Oberlin ($32,526 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oberlin College are 0.9% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($19,510 vs. $19,684).
  • Oberlin College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $348 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at Oberlin than at Mount Holyoke College (about $348 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Mount Holyoke College (99% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 46.5% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($52,418 vs. $35,780).

MHC vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mount Holyoke College (1460) is 20 points higher than at Oberlin (1440).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at Oberlin).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MHC students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

MHC vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC 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 Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Mount Holyoke College earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,000 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Holyoke College graduates have a $5,373 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($21,206 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, MHC graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($219 vs. $274).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 77%)

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.