Otterbein University
Otterbein University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Otterbein University Featured Rankings
About Otterbein University
According to Wikipedia, Otterbein University is a private university in Westerville, Ohio. It offers 74 majors and 44 minors, as well as eight graduate programs. The university was founded in 1847 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and named for United Brethren founder the Rev. Philip William Otterbein. As a result of a division and two mergers involving the church, it has been associated since 1968 with the United Methodist Church. In 2010, due to an increasing number of graduate and undergraduate programs, its name was changed back from Otterbein College to Otterbein University.
Otterbein University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,498 | 85% | 80% | 61% | 25 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Otterbein University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $36,598 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $14,480 |
| 30K - 48K | $15,092 |
| 48K - 75K | $14,862 |
| 75K - 110K | $18,412 |
| 110K+ | $27,524 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Otterbein University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Otterbein University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $59,196 a year, and 95% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Otterbein University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 2,705 | 2,224 | 481 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Otterbein University?
Otterbein University is located at 1 South Grove Street, Westerville, OH 43081.
How Safe is Otterbein University?
Like every college that receives federal student aid, Otterbein University publishes an annual security report with its campus crime statistics and safety policies. Its figures can also be looked up in the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security database.
Relative to its enrollment, Otterbein University has a violent crime rate of 0.17% and a property crime rate of 0.09%. Westerville has a violent crime rate of 0.22% and a property (including theft) crime rate of 1.76%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is Otterbein University Known For?
Otterbein University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Literature
- Communications
- Biology
- History
- Physics
- Business
- Chemistry
- Nursing
- Philosophy
- Education
- Psychology
- Mathematics
- Economics
- Computer Science
- Medical
- Engineering
Otterbein University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Otterbein University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Otterbein University ranks #700 in the U.S. and #3008 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesOtterbein University ranks #727 in the U.S. and #2474 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesOtterbein University ranks #843 in the U.S. and #2554 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesOtterbein University ranks #889 in the U.S. and #3330 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesOtterbein University ranks #963 in the U.S. and #4126 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesOtterbein University ranks #973 in the U.S. and #3046 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesOtterbein University ranks #977 in the U.S. and #4026 worldwide for influence in Physics.
physics DegreesOtterbein University ranks #993 in the U.S. and #3714 worldwide for influence in Business.
business DegreesOtterbein University ranks #994 in the U.S. and #4220 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesOtterbein University ranks #1072 in the U.S. and #2742 worldwide for influence in Nursing.
nursing DegreesOtterbein University ranks #1103 in the U.S. and #3670 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.
philosophy DegreesOtterbein University ranks #1116 in the U.S. and #4732 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesOtterbein University ranks #1152 in the U.S. and #3034 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesOtterbein University ranks #1168 in the U.S. and #4516 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesOtterbein University ranks #1168 in the U.S. and #6034 worldwide for influence in Economics.
economics DegreesOtterbein University ranks #1387 in the U.S. and #5792 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesOtterbein University ranks #1579 in the U.S. and #5454 worldwide for influence in Medical.
medicine DegreesOtterbein University ranks #1900 in the U.S. and #9008 worldwide for influence in Engineering.
engineering DegreesWho Are Otterbein University's Most Influential Alumni?
Otterbein University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Mathematics. Here are some of Otterbein University's most famous alumni:
- Agnes Meyer Driscoll
- An American cryptographer.
- Paul O'Neill
- An American baseball player.
- Gerald Rosselot
- An American physicist .
- John Finley Williamson
- An American conductor.
- Henry Clay Frick
- An American industrialist .
- James Henry Weaver
- An American mathematician .
- William Hannibal Thomas
- An American journalist, lawyer and writer.
- Rachael Harris
- An American actress and comedian.
- Floyd Alonzo McClure
- An American botanist .
- Jonathan Bennett
- An American actor.
- Cory Michael Smith
- An American actor.
- James Scully
- An Actor .
