Olin College prepares students to become exemplary engineering innovators who recognize needs, design solutions and engage in creative enterprises for the good of the world. As such, we practice a holistic admission process, reviewing applications for both academic achievement and potential as well as personal qualities that would make the applicant a good fit for the Olin education and community. We look for high achievers who have demonstrated course rigor, academic mastery and strong test scores, but we also look for evidence of characteristics we see in our current students such as creativity, initiative, empathy, entrepreneurship, teamwork, passion, integrity and determination. Your extracurricular profile (including work and family commitments), your essays and your recommendation letters help us get to know you and are carefully considered when reviewing applicants for admission.
Olin College of Engineering is a private, nonprofit school in the suburban setting of Needham, Massachusetts. Olin College of Engineering was founded in 1997 and the school now enrolls around 382 students a year, which includes 382 undergraduate students. Olin College of Engineering offers housing for up to 363 students. Most students live in off campus housing, and 90% of students spend their weekends on campus.
📆 Mark your calendar! January 1, 2023 is the final deadline to submit an application for the Fall 2023 semester. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should hear from Olin College of Engineering by April 1.
Student Activities at Olin College of Engineering
Are you interested in music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of Olin College of Engineering's theater groups.
Are you interested in journalism and communications? Olin College of Engineering students can write for the campus newspaperor be a producer for the student-run television channel.
There are no fraternities or sororities at Olin College of Engineering, so it might be a good choice if you're not interested in Greek life.
Planning to play sports? Olin College of Engineering has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Olin College of Engineering on the Student Life page.
2022 Olin College of Engineering Facts At-A-Glance | |
---|---|
Academic Calendar | Semester |
Overall Acceptance Rate | 18% |
Early Decision Acceptance Rate | ED not offered |
Early Action Acceptance Rate | EA not offered |
Average GPA | 3.9 |
Applicants Submitting SAT scores | 41% |
Tuition | $57,280 |
Percent of Need Met | 99% |
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package | $57,505 |
The definition of a "good school" is different for different people. Admissions difficulty, admitted student statistics, tuition, and financial aid can give you a sense of how competitive a university is.
Let's take a look at these areas to get a clearer view of what Olin College of Engineering offers and if the school seems like a good choice for you.
Olin College of Engineering is extremely difficult to get into. The acceptance rate at Olin College of Engineering is 18%. Out of 907 applications received in 2022, 163 students were offered admission.
Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. It is a way to measure how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.
Approximately 100% of first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Olin College of Engineeringcome back the next year. Olin College of Engineering's six-year graduation rate for undergrads is 97%. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.
Job placement stats are a good resource for understanding the value of a degree from Olin College of Engineering by providing a look on how job placement has gone for other grads. Within six months of graduating, 75% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.
The average starting salary for recent Olin College of Engineering grads is $93,510 a year. Average starting salaries vary by discipline, but the average starting salary for all 2021 graduates was around $60,000 a year.
An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.
Olin College of Engineering's endowment was valued at $455.6 million in 2022, compared to a national average of $905 million. The school spends $41,079 for each full-time student enrolled.
Tuition is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.
Olin College of Engineering meets 99% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Olin College of Engineering full-time are awarded $57,505 a year in financial aid, on average.
In 2020, students graduated with an average of $21,212 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.
The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022
Some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.
Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Olin College of Engineering.
Based on this information, is Olin College of Engineering the school for you? Remember, the best school for one person may not be the right school for another! So ask yourself: Is Olin College of Engineering a good school for you?
If Olin College of Engineering seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.
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Olin College of Engineering is located in the suburban setting of Needham, Massachusetts, less than an hour from Boston.
If you want to see Olin College of Engineering for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 95/Route 128 to Needham, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Logan International.
You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Olin College of Engineering and Needham are like without leaving home.
See a full list of colleges in Massachusetts and save your favorites to your college list.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering is Jan 1.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
35 and Above
34 to 35
34 and Less
The median ACT score of an admitted student to Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering is 35. Students with an ACT score of 35 and above have a good chance of getting into Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering. Students with an ACT score that falls between 34 and 35 have an average chance of getting admitted, and students with an ACT score of 34 or below have a low chance of being offered admission.
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
SAT Score
Estimated Chance
1550 and Above
1500 to 1550
1500 and Less
The median SAT score for Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering students is 1522. Applicants with SAT scores of 1550 and above have a good chance of being admitted to Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, while applicants with SAT scores between 1500 to 1550 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1500 have a low chance of being offered a spot at Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering.
Tuition & Fees
$76,850
In State$76,850
Out-of-StateWondering what life at Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering is like? There are approximately 382 students enrolled at Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering. 94% percent of students attend school full-time, 15% percent are from MA and 85% percent of students are from other states.
94%
Full Time6%
Part Time15%
In State85%
Out-of-StateData Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
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