Oberlin College Acceptance Rate
Oberlin, Ohio · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 11,039
- Admitted
- 3,641
- Yield
- 21.4%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Oberlin College's acceptance rate has held roughly steady at 33% (32.7% in 2014–15, 33% in 2023–24). Applications grew from 7,227 to 11,039 (+53%) over that period.
Its 33% rate makes Oberlin College more selective than about 92% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 54 tracked Ohio schools, it is more selective than about 93%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (36% for women vs 29.1% for men, a 6.9-point gap). Oberlin College has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 21.4% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 7,227 | 2,365 | 32.7% | 797 |
| 2015–16 | 7,815 | 2,249 | 28.8% | 778 |
| 2016–17 | 8,518 | 2,388 | 28% | 762 |
| 2017–18 | 7,762 | 2,617 | 33.7% | 728 |
| 2018–19 | 7,525 | 2,725 | 36.2% | 805 |
| 2019–20 | 7,708 | 2,806 | 36.4% | 798 |
| 2020–21 | 9,309 | 3,292 | 35.4% | 680 |
| 2021–22 | 10,597 | 3,639 | 34.3% | 864 |
| 2022–23 | 11,066 | 3,859 | 34.9% | 882 |
| 2023–24 | 11,039 | 3,641 | 33% | 779 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 6,220 | 2,238 | 36% |
| Men | 4,819 | 1,403 | 29.1% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 700–760 | 35% |
| SAT Math | 670–750 | |
| ACT Composite | 30–33 | 19% |
How Oberlin College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Oberlin College's acceptance rate?
Oberlin College's acceptance rate is 33% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (3,641 admitted of 11,039 applicants).
Is Oberlin College test optional?
Oberlin College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Oberlin College?
Oberlin College received 11,039 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 3,641.
What SAT score do you need for Oberlin College?
Admitted students at Oberlin College typically scored 700–760 on SAT Reading/Writing and 670–750 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.oberlin.edu/.