Oberlin College Acceptance Rate (34%) & SAT/ACT Scores

Q: What percent of applicants does Oberlin College accept?

Oberlin College's acceptance rate was 34% for fall 2024: it admitted 3,601 of 10,536 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.

Acceptance rate: 34% for fall 2024

SAT, middle 50%: 700–760 reading and writing, 660–760 math

ACT, middle 50%: 31–34 composite

Average net price: $50,484 a year (2022–23)

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Add a test score to compare it with what Oberlin College reported: an acceptance rate of 34% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 31–34.

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A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Oberlin College reviews each application.

Oberlin College GPA requirements

Oberlin College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Oberlin College hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.

Oberlin College acceptance rate

Oberlin College admitted 3,601 of 10,536 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 34%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Oberlin College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Oberlin, Ohio, with 2,896 undergraduates.

SAT and ACT scores

Scores of the first-year students who entered Oberlin College in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:

Test	25th percentile	Median	75th percentile
SAT Reading and Writing	700	740	760
SAT Math	660	710	760
ACT Composite	31	32	34
ACT English	33	35	36
ACT Math	27	30	33

32% submitted SAT scores and 17% submitted ACT scores, as Oberlin College reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1447 for admitted students.

Admission requirements

What Oberlin College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:

Admission factor	Status
High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average.	Required
High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned.	Required
College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school.	Required
RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors.	Required
High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class.	Considered if submitted
Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application.	Considered if submitted
Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores.	Considered if submitted
Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work.	Considered if submitted
Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college.	Considered if submitted
Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III.	Not considered
Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations.	Not considered

Requirements can differ by program and applicant type, so check with Oberlin College's admissions office before you apply.

AP credit

Oberlin College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

It doesn't award credit for life experience.

Average net price

First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $50,484 a year at Oberlin College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is it to get into Oberlin College?

Selective: fewer than half of applicants got in. Oberlin College admitted 34% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.

Does Oberlin College require the SAT or ACT?

Check Oberlin College's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Oberlin College was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 32% sent SAT scores and 17% sent ACT scores.

What GPA does Oberlin College look for?

Oberlin College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.

How much does GPA matter at Oberlin College?

A lot: Oberlin College requires high school GPA, high school record, college preparatory program and recommendations. It considers high school class rank, essay or personal statement, test scores, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests and demonstration of competencies. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

What percent of applicants does Oberlin College accept?

Oberlin College's acceptance rate was 34% for fall 2024: it admitted 3,601 of 10,536 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.

Do I have a chance at Oberlin College with a 3.0 GPA?

GPA alone can't tell you here. Oberlin College admitted 34% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.

What are Oberlin College's SAT and ACT score ranges?

The middle 50% of Oberlin College's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 700–760 in reading and writing and 660–760 in math; ACT composite 31–34, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.

Does Oberlin College give credit for AP exams?

Yes. Oberlin College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

Does Oberlin College consider legacy status?

Yes. Oberlin College considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

What is the average net price at Oberlin College?

First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $50,484 a year at Oberlin College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Before you apply, check Oberlin College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.

Sources

College Navigator: Oberlin CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).

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