Oberlin vs. Lewis and Clark

Comparable Facts

Compare Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH with Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lewis & Clark College is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (3,504 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting); Lewis & Clark College is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
• Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lewis & Clark College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Oberlin College 9:1; Lewis & Clark College 12:1.

Oberlin vs. Lewis and Clark Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin or Lewis and Clark? 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 Lewis & Clark College than Oberlin ($37,999 vs. $51,624).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lewis & Clark College are 19.8% lower than at Oberlin College ($15,648 vs. $19,510).
• Oberlin College is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lewis and Clark (about $2,538 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $64,828.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Oberlin than at Lewis & Clark College (about $2,538 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $64,828.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lewis & Clark College than at Oberlin College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lewis & Clark College students is 17.4% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($42,021 vs. $35,780).

Oberlin vs. Lewis and Clark Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oberlin or Lewis and Clark? 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 Lewis and Clark and Oberlin.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 140 points higher than at Lewis and Clark (1300).
• Incoming Oberlin students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Lewis and Clark).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 1360/1520; Lewis & Clark College 1210/1390.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 31/34; Lewis & Clark College 28/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oberlin - Test optional; Lewis and Clark - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027; Lewis and Clark Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Lewis and Clark students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
• Lewis and Clark has a higher acceptance rate (78.5%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Oberlin vs. 9.7% at Lewis and Clark.

Oberlin vs. Lewis and Clark Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oberlin and Lewis and Clark? 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 Lewis & Clark College's (73%).
• Graduates from Lewis & Clark College earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,900 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lewis & Clark College graduates have a $2,079 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($24,500 vs. $26,579).
• Among borrowers, Lewis and Clark graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($253 vs. $274).
• More Lewis and Clark graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.