Oberlin vs. Mary Washington College

Deciding between Oberlin College and University of Mary Washington? 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
University of Mary Washington

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Mary Washington College Fredericksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Mary Washington College Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Mary Washington College 3,826
  • Type
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • Mary Washington College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oberlin #153
  • Mary Washington College #259
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oberlin -
  • Mary Washington College -
  • Status
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Mary Washington College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oberlin
  • Mary Washington College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Mary Washington College $14,640
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Mary Washington College $27,560
  • Room & Board
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Mary Washington College $14,250
  • Average Net Price
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Mary Washington College $21,800
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • Mary Washington College $10,491
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oberlin 99%
  • Mary Washington College 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Mary Washington College 5,124
  • Admitted
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Mary Washington College 4,088
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Mary Washington College 79.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Mary Washington College 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Mary Washington College 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oberlin 32
  • Mary Washington College 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Mary Washington College 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oberlin A-
  • Mary Washington College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Mary Washington College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oberlin High
  • Mary Washington College
  • ACT Range
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • Mary Washington College 27/31
  • SAT Range
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Mary Washington College 1170/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Mary Washington College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027
  • Mary Washington College
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Mary Washington College 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Mary Washington College
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (12%)
    • General Studies (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Mary Washington College 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Mary Washington College $55,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Mary Washington College 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Mary Washington College $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oberlin $274
  • Mary Washington College $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oberlin 41%
  • Mary Washington College 36%
  • % Women
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Mary Washington College 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oberlin Medium
  • Mary Washington College Low
  • HBCU
  • Oberlin No
  • Mary Washington College No
  • % White
  • Oberlin 68%
  • Mary Washington College 70%
  • % Asian
  • Oberlin 4%
  • Mary Washington College 4%
  • % Black
  • Oberlin 5%
  • Mary Washington College 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oberlin 8%
  • Mary Washington College 8%
  • % Native American
  • Oberlin 0%
  • Mary Washington College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oberlin 0%
  • Mary Washington College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oberlin 6%
  • Mary Washington College 5%
  • % International
  • Oberlin 8%
  • Mary Washington College 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oberlin 1%
  • Mary Washington College 6%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oberlin 6%
  • Mary Washington College 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Mary Washington College 10%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH with University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Mary Washington is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (3,826 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting); University of Mary Washington is in Fredericksburg, VA (Small Suburban setting).
  • Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Mary Washington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Oberlin College 9:1; University of Mary Washington 13:1.

Oberlin vs. Mary Washington College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin or Mary Washington College? 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 University of Mary Washington than Oberlin ($21,800 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Mary Washington are 27% lower than at Oberlin College ($14,250 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 360.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mary Washington College (about $52,726 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $14,640.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 144.4% higher at Oberlin than at University of Mary Washington (about $39,806 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $27,560.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College as at University of Mary Washington (99% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 241.1% larger than aid received by University of Mary Washington students ($35,780 vs. $10,491).

Oberlin vs. Mary Washington College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oberlin or Mary Washington College? 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 Mary Washington College and Oberlin.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 170 points higher than at Mary Washington College (1270).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Mary Washington College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 1360/1520; University of Mary Washington 1170/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 31/34; University of Mary Washington 27/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oberlin - Test optional; Mary Washington College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mary Washington College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Mary Washington College has a higher acceptance rate (79.8%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Oberlin vs. 17.7% at Mary Washington College.

Oberlin vs. Mary Washington College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oberlin and Mary Washington College? 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 University of Mary Washington's (71%).
  • Graduates from University of Mary Washington earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,500 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Mary Washington graduates have a $5,079 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, Mary Washington College 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 Mary Washington College 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.