Oberlin vs. OWU

Deciding between Oberlin College and Ohio Wesleyan University? 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 Wesleyan University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • OWU Delaware, OH
  • Setting
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • OWU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • OWU 1,525
  • Type
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • OWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oberlin #153
  • OWU #386
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oberlin -
  • OWU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • OWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oberlin
  • OWU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • OWU $53,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • OWU $53,888
  • Room & Board
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • OWU $14,684
  • Average Net Price
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • OWU $23,006
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • OWU $45,481
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oberlin 99%
  • OWU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • OWU 6,144
  • Admitted
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • OWU 3,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • OWU 55.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • OWU 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oberlin 1440
  • OWU 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oberlin 32
  • OWU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • OWU 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oberlin A-
  • OWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • OWU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oberlin High
  • OWU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • OWU 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • OWU 1105/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • OWU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027
  • OWU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • OWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • OWU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oberlin 88%
  • OWU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • OWU $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oberlin 82%
  • OWU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • OWU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oberlin $274
  • OWU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oberlin 41%
  • OWU 44%
  • % Women
  • Oberlin 59%
  • OWU 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oberlin Medium
  • OWU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Oberlin No
  • OWU No
  • % White
  • Oberlin 68%
  • OWU 70%
  • % Asian
  • Oberlin 4%
  • OWU 3%
  • % Black
  • Oberlin 5%
  • OWU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oberlin 8%
  • OWU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Oberlin 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oberlin 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oberlin 6%
  • OWU 5%
  • % International
  • Oberlin 8%
  • OWU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oberlin 1%
  • OWU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oberlin 6%
  • OWU 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oberlin 82%
  • OWU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH with Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oberlin College is larger than OWU based on total student enrollment (2,909 students vs. 1,525 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting); Ohio Wesleyan University is in Delaware, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Oberlin College 9:1; Ohio Wesleyan University 12:1.

Oberlin vs. OWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin or OWU? 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 Wesleyan University than Oberlin ($23,006 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Wesleyan University are 24.7% lower than at Oberlin College ($14,684 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 25% more expensive for in-state tuition than OWU (about $13,478 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $53,888.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25% higher at Oberlin than at Ohio Wesleyan University (about $13,478 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $53,888.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Wesleyan University than at Oberlin College (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 27.1% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($45,481 vs. $35,780).

Oberlin vs. OWU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 210 points higher than at OWU (1230).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at OWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 1360/1520; Ohio Wesleyan University 1105/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 31/34; Ohio Wesleyan University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oberlin - Test optional; OWU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027; OWU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Oberlin students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at OWU (3.54).
  • OWU has a higher acceptance rate (55.6%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Oberlin vs. 12.6% at OWU.

Oberlin vs. OWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oberlin and OWU? 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 Wesleyan University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Ohio Wesleyan University earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 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 OWU graduates ($26,579 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Oberlin graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OWU graduates ($274 vs. $279).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OWU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 80%)

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.