Oberlin vs. F&M

Deciding between Oberlin College and Franklin and Marshall 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.

Oberlin College
Franklin and Marshall College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oberlin #153
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oberlin -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oberlin
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oberlin 99%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oberlin 1440
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oberlin 32
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oberlin A-
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oberlin High
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oberlin 88%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oberlin 82%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oberlin $274
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oberlin 41%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • Oberlin 59%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oberlin Medium
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • Oberlin No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • Oberlin 68%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • Oberlin 4%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • Oberlin 5%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oberlin 8%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • Oberlin 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oberlin 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oberlin 6%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • Oberlin 8%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oberlin 1%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oberlin 6%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oberlin 82%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH with Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oberlin College is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (2,909 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Oberlin College 9:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

Oberlin vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin or F&M? 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 Franklin and Marshall College than Oberlin ($43,987 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 17% lower than at Oberlin College ($16,188 vs. $19,510).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oberlin (about $3,428 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $67,366.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at F&M than at Oberlin College (about $3,428 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $67,366.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Franklin and Marshall College (99% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 17.1% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($41,901 vs. $35,780).

Oberlin vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oberlin or F&M? 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 F&M and Oberlin.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 50 points higher than at F&M (1390).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at F&M).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 1360/1520; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 31/34; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oberlin - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.2%) than F&M (28.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Oberlin vs. 17.1% at F&M.

Oberlin vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oberlin and F&M? 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 Franklin and Marshall College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $18,000 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $4,579 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($22,000 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($227 vs. $274).
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.