Oberlin College
Oberlin College Featured Rankings
- #1 Best Small Colleges in Ohio 2022
- #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Ohio 2022
- #2 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 2022
- #3 Most Influential US Universities by State
- #4 Engineering Liberal Arts Colleges
- #4 Earth Sciences Liberal Arts Colleges
- #4 Best Colleges in Ohio 2022
- #5 Religious Studies Liberal Arts Colleges
- #6 Physics Liberal Arts Colleges
- #6 Computer Science Liberal Arts Colleges
- #6 Philosophy Liberal Arts Colleges
- #7 Sociology Liberal Arts Colleges
- #7 Economics Liberal Arts Colleges
- #7 Political Science Liberal Arts Colleges
- #7 Chemistry Liberal Arts Colleges
- #7 English Liberal Arts Colleges
- #7 Best Small Colleges 2025
- #7 Liberal Arts Colleges for Biology Degrees
- #8 Best Liberal Arts Colleges 2022
- #13 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Psychology Majors
- #17 History Liberal Arts Colleges
- #34 Best Undergrad Private Colleges
- #37 Best Undergrad Colleges 2025
About Oberlin College
Featured Alumnus
Paul Pierson ranks among our Top Influential Political Scientists Today.
Oberlin College was founded in 1833. Oberlin’s most popular programs are those in English, in biology, in history, in politics, and in environmental studies. Also highly regarded is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
Oberlin is associated with four Nobel laureates:
- Physics—Robert A. Millikan
- Physiology or medicine—Robert W. Sperry and Stanley Cohen
- Literature—Toni Morrison
Among many other distinguished Oberlin-connected individuals, we may mention the following:
- Philosophers—George Herbert Mead, Willard V.O. Quine, and Dale Jacquette
- Poet, Bell Hooks
- Playwright and novelist, Thornton Wilder
- Novelists—William Goldman, Gary Shteyngart, Tracy Chevalier, and Ishmael Beah
- Memoirist, James McBride
- Nonfiction authors, Geoffrey Ward and Peggy Orenstein
- Literary critic, Michael Dirda
- Literary scholar, J. Hillis Miller
- Screenwriter, Mark Boal
- Theater and film director, Julie Taymor
- Actor and playwright, Eric Bogosian
- Playwright, Romulus Linney
- Actors—Edward Everett Horton, John Cazale, Michael Maguire, Bill Irwin, Avery Brooks, and Lena Dunham
- Singer-songwriters—Liz Phair, Marc Cohn, and Josh Ritter
- Singer, fiddler, and banjo player, Rhiannon Giddens
- Mezzo-sopranos, Marilyn Horne and Denyce Graves
- Tenor, David Miller
- Jazz pianist, Stanley Cowell
- Classical pianist and symphony conductor, Robert Spano
- Violinist, Dorothy DeLay
- Oboist, Alex Klein
- Composers—Igor Stravinsky, William Grant Still, Christopher Rouse, David Lang, George Walker, and Arlene Sierra
- Film composer, John Williams
- Sculptor, Edmonia Lewis
- Atmospheric chemist, Paul Wennberg
- Biochemist, Ralph F. Hirschmann
- Geologist and explorer, John Wesley Powell
- Biologist, Richard Lenski
- Marine biologist, Hope Hibbard
- Ecologist, David W. Orr
- Electrical engineer and inventor, Elisha Gray
- Psychiatrists, Rollo May and John E. Mack
- Political scientists—Wilson Carey McWilliams, Lawrence R. Jacobs, and Aaron Wildavsky
- Economist, Anne Osborn Krueger
- Anthropologist, Johnetta Cole
- Germanist, Heinz Politzer
- Japanologist, Edwin O. Reischauer
- Educator, Robert Hutchins
- Suffragist and abolitionist, Lucy Stone
- Civil rights activists—Mary Evans Wilson, Anna J. Cooper, and James M. Lawson
- Anti-war activist and Youth International Party (YIP) co-founder, Jerry Rubin
- Journalist and public servant, Carl T. Rowan
- Journalist, Peter Baker
- Political commentator and blogger, Michelle Malkin
- Television critic, Emily Nussbaum
- Current US Representative, Yvette Clarke
Oberlin is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
According to Wikipedia, Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio. Founded in 1833, it is the oldest coeducational liberal arts college in the United States and the second-oldest continuously operating coeducational institute of higher learning in the world. The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the United States. In 1835, Oberlin became one of the first colleges in the United States to admit African Americans, and in 1837, the first to admit women . It has been known since its founding for progressive student activism.
Oberlin College's Online Degrees
Oberlin College Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11,066 | 35% | 83% | 1445 | 31 |
How Much Does Oberlin College Cost To Attend?
| Tuition (in-state) |
|---|
| $62,024 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $13,725 |
| 30K - 48K | $14,517 |
| 48K - 75K | $24,649 |
| 75K - 110K | $28,559 |
| 110K+ | $46,404 |
How Much Do Oberlin College Graduates Make?
If you graduate from Oberlin College, then you can expect to earn an average of $45,500 per year. You also have a 89% chance of being employed after 10 years.
Oberlin College's Demographics
Demographic data is for full-time, on-campus students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 3,046 | 3,031 | 15 |
Where is Oberlin College?
Oberlin College is located at 70 N Professor St, Oberlin OH 44074
How Safe is Oberlin College?
Oberlin has a violent crime rate of less than .01% and a property crime rate of less than .01%.
What Is Oberlin College Known For?
Oberlin College is known for it's academic work in the following disciplines:
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Political Science
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
- Psychology
- History
- Physics
- Biology
- Economics
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Anthropology
- Earth Sciences
- Mathematics
- Engineering
Oberlin College's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Who Are Oberlin College's Most Influential Alumni?
Oberlin College's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Psychology, Philosophy, and Literature. Here are some of Oberlin College's most famous alumni:
- Willard Van Orman Quine
- An American philosopher and logician .
- George Herbert Mead
- An American philosopher, sociologist, and psychologist.
- Rollo May
- An American psychiatrist.
- Kenneth Waltz
- An American political scientist and international relations theoretician .
- Robert Andrews Millikan
- An American physicist.
- Sinclair Lewis
- An American writer and playwright .
- Lucy Stone
- An American abolitionist and suffragist .
- John Wesley Powell
- An American geologist .
- Douglas T. Ross
- An American computer scientist.
- Elisha Gray
- An American electrical engineer.
- Julie Taymor
- An American film and theatre director.
- J. Hillis Miller
- An American literary critic, university professor.
Who Are Oberlin College's Most Influential Faculty?
Oberlin College's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Psychology, Philosophy, and Literature. Here are some of Oberlin College's most famous alumni:
- Kazim Ali
- An American poet, novelist, essayist, and professor.
- Shane McCrae
- An American writer.
- Chawne Kimber
- An African-American mathematician and quilter.
- Gary Hinshaw
- An Astrophysicist.
- KJ Cerankowski
- An American professor and author.
- Brittany Friedman
- An American sociologist.
- Michele Alberto Matteini
- An Art historian and academic.
- Julia Christensen
- An American artist.
- Sergio Gutiérrez Negrón
- A .
