Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 34.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Oberlin College scores 45 (Below Average Value). Average 6-year earnings are $30,700. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.847 (score 11). The 80.9% completion rate is genuine strength. Oberlin's reputation and selectivity (34.2% admission rate) do not produce a labor market premium.
Oberlin College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $67,366/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $67,366/yr |
| Average net price | $38,645/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $154,580 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,343 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $30,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 80.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,887 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $67,366/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $38,645/year, or roughly $154,580 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $18,774/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $48,731/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,000, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($30,700) and comes to 0.85, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $18,774 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,799 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,123 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,207 |
| $110,001+ | $48,731 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (0-$30,000) pay $18,774 per year at Oberlin - $75,096 over four years. However, against $30,700 average 6-year earnings and a 12.6-year payback, even the lowest net price produces a difficult financial case.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $22,123 per year ($88,492 over four years) and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $29,207 per year ($116,828 over four years). Against $30,700 average earnings and a 12.6-year payback, these net prices produce very long payback periods for average earners. Middle-income families are paying the most difficult part of the Oberlin price scale. Unless a student is on a clear CS or economics track, or is fully funded through conservatory scholarships, the middle-income financial case for Oberlin is weak by the data.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,000+) pay $48,731 per year - $194,924 over four years - near full sticker price. At this cost against $30,700 average earnings, the payback period extends to 20+ years for average earners. The financial case for full-pay Oberlin requires non-financial reasoning: the conservatory's artistic standing, Oberlin's intellectual culture, or specific career pathways in music, policy, or academia that the Scorecard earnings figures do not fully capture. High-income families making this investment should do so with clear eyes about the earnings trajectory.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Oberlin College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Music | $43,343 | F |
| Economics | $87,120 | B |
| Psychology | $48,109 | F |
| Biology | $44,095 | F |
| International Relations | $70,689 | D |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $46,580 | C+ |
| History | $60,895 | B |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,299 | C+ |
| Area Studies | $55,151 | F |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $129,395 | A |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
CS is Oberlin's best ROI program: 34 graduates, $129,395 at year four, with an A-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.205 and $26,500 median debt. No year-one data is available. The 4-year figure of $129,395 is competitive with much more technically oriented institutions and reflects strong placement into tech roles for a small liberal arts CS program.
Economics
Economics (58 graduates) earns $61,713 at year one and $87,120 at year four, with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.405 and $25,000 median debt. This is Oberlin's strongest non-CS earnings outcome. Economics graduates from selective liberal arts colleges with these earnings typically enter finance, consulting, or graduate economics programs. The B grade is reasonable given the debt load and earnings trajectory. This is the program for students who want Oberlin's academic environment and also want a defensible near-term financial outcome.
Music
Music is Oberlin's signature program and its worst ROI outcome: 136 graduates - the largest program on campus - earning $17,141 at year one and $43,343 at year four, with an F-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.528 and $26,200 median debt. Graduates owe 153% of their annual earnings in student debt at year one. The Scorecard data is unambiguous: graduates enter the most economically constrained professional arts market with substantial debt loads. The financial case for Oberlin music at $154,580 total cost requires full-pay families or very strong financial aid.
Biology
Biology (53 graduates) earns $22,684 at year one and $44,095 at year four, with an F-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.025 and $23,250 median debt. The year-one suppression reflects a high pre-med concentration entering graduate or professional school. The 4-year figure of $44,095 is below what the typical Oberlin biology graduate eventually earns after completing medical or graduate school, but the Scorecard only captures earnings through 10 years - many Oberlin biology graduates are still in training at the 6-year mark.
International Relations
International Relations (51 graduates) earns $30,187 at year one and $70,689 at year four, with a D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.805 and $24,314 median debt. The large year-one to year-four gap reflects career development in policy, NGO, and government roles that pay modestly at entry but grow over time. The D grade accurately reflects the financial difficulty of the early years. For students targeting State Department, policy think tanks, or international development careers, the long-term arc is stronger than the D grade suggests.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 83.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 86.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 92.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Oberlin College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 34.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 660-760 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 700-760 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 31-34 |
| Enrollment | 2,887 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 9.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,232 |
Oberlin's 34.2% admission rate, SAT 660-760 Math and 700-760 Reading, and ACT 31-34 composite describe a genuinely selective institution. These scores are well above the national median, and Oberlin's academic identity is demanding by liberal arts standards. The Oberlin network is strong in arts, nonprofit, policy, and academic contexts, not in finance, consulting, or tech. Applicants should calibrate expectations accordingly.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oberlin College (this school) | 45 | $38,645 | $58,343 |
| VanderCook College of Music | 43 | $19,780 | $47,863 |
| Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music | 32 | $7,260 | $19,474 |
| The Juilliard School | 27 | $43,571 | $37,827 |
| The New England Conservatory of Music | 25 | $46,754 | $34,483 |
| Berklee College of Music | 20 | $49,465 | $33,647 |
Who Thrives Here
Oberlin admits 34.2% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 660-760 Math and 700-760 Reading, ACT 31-34. Enrollment is small at 2,887. The Pell grant rate is 9.6%, indicating a small share of low-income students. The music conservatory is one of Oberlin's defining features - roughly half the student body is in either the liberal arts college or the conservatory. Oberlin graduates disproportionately pursue graduate education, the arts, social sector work, and public interest careers. Students who understand this and have non-financial priorities will find a distinctive education.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Oberlin College is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $38,645 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $58,343 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: its 80.9% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $26,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $30,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Oberlin College: Common Questions
Is Oberlin College worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Oberlin College scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $38,645 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $58,343 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Oberlin College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $38,645 a year, or roughly $154,580 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Oberlin College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,343 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,543 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Oberlin College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 12.6 years for Oberlin College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Oberlin College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,000, against average earnings of $30,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Oberlin College?
The six-year graduation rate is 80.9%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.