Oberlin College

What Oberlin College's own numbers say, from its Common Data Set 2025-26.

All 3 insights at Oberlin College PRO

10 more things the data says PRO

1. Early Decision filled about 34% of the 2025-26 first-year class, less than most similar colleges.
2. The share of international students in the first-year class has risen from 9% to 12% since 2021-22, about 1.1 points a year.
3. The admit rate has moved down steadily, from 35.4% in 2020-21 to 33.0% in 2025-26. If the trend holds, expect about 32.7% in 2026-27.
4. After ED, 505 of 768 seats were left for 11,064 other applicants: about one seat for every 22.
5. ED applicants were admitted at 39%, against 32.6% for everyone else: 1.2 times the rate.
6. It reports meeting 100% of financial need for first-years who have need.
7. 460 students stayed on the waitlist and 33 were admitted from it (7.2%).
8. Only 34% of enrolled first-years sent an SAT score, so its SAT range describes a minority of the class.
9. Men were admitted at a lower rate: 35.8% for women against 29.7% for men.
10. Applications rose 26% from 2020-21 to 2025-26 (9,309 to 11,732).

What students say PRO

From students' own posts on Reddit and admissions forums: self-reported, unverified, never used in your odds.

• Most admits who named a round applied Regular Decision (about 20 of 22), with a couple using Early Action.
• Writing and humanities spikes were common: literary journal or newspaper editors, creative writing, published or online-read work.
• Serious music or arts commitment showed up often among admits, such as youth orchestras, composition, choir, juried art and stage work.
• Many admits led or founded clubs or ventures, such as mock trial, reading clubs, tech resale businesses, newspapers, or captain roles.
• Scores and grades were mostly high (SAT 1400-1590, GPA 3.6-4.0), though a few admits shared lower numbers like 1100-1300 or a 2.8-3.6 GPA.
• Students report Oberlin is need-aware, with a family contribution near $25-30k said to be typical at schools like it, and low-contribution international applicants warned off.
• Students report generous merit offers, often around $25-32k, and many admitted students getting them, though the remaining cost can still be too high.
• Students report conservatory applicants can appeal merit awards with competing offers, and one award rose after a program director advocated.
• Students report Oberlin's reported admit rate is about 34% in one telling and a little over 4% in another, so check the official numbers.

Every number, year by year: Oberlin College on Open College Data. Something wrong? Suggest a correction.