Oberlin vs. MSOE

Deciding between Oberlin College and Milwaukee School of Engineering? 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
Milwaukee School of Engineering

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • MSOE Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • MSOE Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • MSOE 2,953
  • Type
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • MSOE Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oberlin #153
  • MSOE #230
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oberlin -
  • MSOE -
  • Status
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • MSOE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oberlin
  • MSOE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Room & Board
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • MSOE $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • MSOE $25,669
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • MSOE $36,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oberlin 99%
  • MSOE 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • MSOE 6,287
  • Admitted
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • MSOE 3,705
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • MSOE 58.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • MSOE 17.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oberlin 1440
  • MSOE 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oberlin 32
  • MSOE 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • MSOE 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oberlin A-
  • MSOE A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • MSOE Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oberlin High
  • MSOE Low
  • ACT Range
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • MSOE 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • MSOE 1160/1405
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • MSOE Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027
  • MSOE Sep 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • MSOE 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • MSOE
    • Engineering (66%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communication (1%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oberlin 88%
  • MSOE 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • MSOE $68,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oberlin 82%
  • MSOE 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • MSOE $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oberlin $274
  • MSOE $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oberlin 41%
  • MSOE 70%
  • % Women
  • Oberlin 59%
  • MSOE 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oberlin Medium
  • MSOE Medium
  • HBCU
  • Oberlin No
  • MSOE No
  • % White
  • Oberlin 68%
  • MSOE 66%
  • % Asian
  • Oberlin 4%
  • MSOE 3%
  • % Black
  • Oberlin 5%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oberlin 8%
  • MSOE 5%
  • % Native American
  • Oberlin 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oberlin 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oberlin 6%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % International
  • Oberlin 8%
  • MSOE 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oberlin 1%
  • MSOE 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oberlin 6%
  • MSOE 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oberlin 82%
  • MSOE 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH with Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Milwaukee School of Engineering is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (2,953 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting); Milwaukee School of Engineering is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Oberlin College 9:1; Milwaukee School of Engineering 12:1.

Oberlin vs. MSOE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin or MSOE? 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering than Oberlin ($25,669 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee School of Engineering are 28.3% lower than at Oberlin College ($13,984 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 33.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSOE (about $16,886 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $50,480.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.5% higher at Oberlin than at Milwaukee School of Engineering (about $16,886 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $50,480.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Milwaukee School of Engineering than at Oberlin College (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee School of Engineering students is 3.4% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($36,997 vs. $35,780).

Oberlin vs. MSOE Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 160 points higher than at MSOE (1280).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 27 at MSOE).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 1360/1520; Milwaukee School of Engineering 1160/1405.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 31/34; Milwaukee School of Engineering 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oberlin - Test optional; MSOE - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027; MSOE Sep 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Oberlin students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at MSOE (3.65).
  • MSOE has a higher acceptance rate (58.9%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Oberlin vs. 17.2% at MSOE.

Oberlin vs. MSOE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oberlin and MSOE? 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering's (57%).
  • Graduates from Milwaukee School of Engineering earn a median of about $25,000 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,900 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Oberlin College graduates have a $421 lower median loan debt than MSOE graduates ($26,579 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Oberlin graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSOE graduates ($274 vs. $279).
  • More MSOE graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.