Oberlin College

Oberlin College is very difficult to get into. The college admitted 35% of all applicants in 2022. Out of 11,066 applications received in 2023, 3,859 students were offered admission.

If you are considering submitting an application to Oberlin College, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 1/15 and there is no application fee, which means it is free to apply.

Students who submit their applications to Oberlin College for fall semester should hear back from Oberlin College by April 1.

Oberlin College Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here is an overiew of some of Oberlin College's admissions stats.

Oberlin College 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.7
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	56%
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	37%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	22%
Waitlist	Yes

Oberlin College Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Oberlin College.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Yes	November 15	December 15
Early Decision II	Yes	January 2	February 1
Early Action	No	–	–
Regular Decision	Yes	1 15	April 1

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Applying Early to Oberlin College?

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Oberlin College offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, which means you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 15 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 15.

🗓️ Early Decision II applications are due January 2. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before February 1.

The early decision acceptance rate at Oberlin College is 47%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 35%. Last year, Oberlin College admitted 255 of the 541 students who applied early decision.

Some students apply early to college because they hope it will increase their chances of acceptance. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of acceptance, since it demonstrates your interest in a school.

➡️ See a list of some selective colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Oberlin College Admissions

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Transferring to Oberlin College

Transfer student admissions is very difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to Oberlin College

Oberlin College has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does Oberlin College Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are given the most weight in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the areas where you stand out.

Admissions Factors at Oberlin College

Curious about the factors that are considered by Oberlin College during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Class Rank	Very Important
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Important
Application Essay	Important
Extracurricular Activities	Important
Recommendation(s)	Important
Talent/Ability	Important
First Generation	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Interview	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest	Considered

Make sure to check with Oberlin College for more information on admission factors.

Oberlin College Application Requirements

To apply to Oberlin College, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with Oberlin College's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview	–	√	–	–
Other Requirements	–	–	√	audition for the Conservatory of Music, detailed portfolio for homeschooled students
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Standardized Test Scores	–	–	–	–
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)	–	–	–	–
Letter(s) of Recommendation	2	–	–	–
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Oberlin College?

Students admitted to Oberlin College have an average unweighted GPA of 3.7.

Out of all students that were admitted, 24% submitted a class rank. At Oberlin College 56% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 79% were in the top 25% and 96% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Oberlin College, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	11.1%
3.75 and 3.99	39.8%
3.50 and 3.74	28.6%
3.25 and 3.49	14.3%
3.00 and 3.24	5.6%
2.50 and 2.9	0.6%
2.00 and 2.49	–

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Oberlin College directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Oberlin College has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 37% of Oberlin College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 22% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Oberlin College?

To be competitive with other Oberlin College applicants, you should aim to score between 1380 and 1500 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Oberlin College 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1500 and 25% of scored lower than 1380, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Oberlin College students scored 770 or higher and 75% of students scored 690 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Oberlin College students scored 760 or higher, and 75% scored a 690 or higher.

To be most competitive at Oberlin College, you should strive to earn between 30 and 33 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 33 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Oberlin College's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 33, and three out of four students scored lower than 33 on the ACT.

A 30 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Oberlin College students. Only one out of every four students scored below 30.

More Information on Transferring to Oberlin College

For transfer students, it is very difficult to get admitted to Oberlin College.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is April 1. Applicants should hear back by May 15.

Transfer students can enroll in Oberlin College during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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Oberlin College Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Oberlin College?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Oberlin College.

Does Oberlin College accept transfer credits?

✅ Oberlin College accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Oberlin College accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Oberlin College accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Oberlin College?

❌ No, Oberlin College is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you should strongly consider submitting them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is Oberlin College's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for Oberlin College is 35%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Oberlin College?

✅ Oberlin College's early decision acceptance rate was 47% in 2021.

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