Oberlin vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Oberlin College and Ohio State University Main Campus? 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
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oberlin #153
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oberlin -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oberlin
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oberlin 99%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oberlin 32
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oberlin A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oberlin High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oberlin $274
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oberlin 41%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oberlin Medium
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Oberlin No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Oberlin 68%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Oberlin 4%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Oberlin 5%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oberlin 8%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Oberlin 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oberlin 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oberlin 6%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Oberlin 8%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oberlin 1%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oberlin 6%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH with Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Oberlin College 9:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Oberlin vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin or Ohio State? 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 Ohio State University Main Campus than Oberlin ($19,783 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 24.5% lower than at Oberlin College ($14,738 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 408.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $54,122 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68.3% higher at Oberlin than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $27,344 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Ohio State University Main Campus (99% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 172.1% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($35,780 vs. $13,151).

Oberlin vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 40 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 1360/1520; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 31/34; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oberlin - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Oberlin vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Oberlin vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oberlin and Ohio State? 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 Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,600 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $5,079 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($222 vs. $274).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 63%)

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.