Oberlin, Ohio Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Oberlin, Ohio: median public in-state tuition $67,366 (+1122.2% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $58,343 (+7.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 74.4% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $26,000 (+95.9% vs U.S.) 2,974 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 2,974 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $67,366 (+1122.2% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $58,343 (+7.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 74.4% (-13.6 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $25,112 (+151.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $26,000 (+95.9% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,211
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 80.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 91.0%
Download the data
Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Oberlin serve students across Ohio with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 2,974 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $67,366. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Oberlin, Ohio and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Oberlin vs Ohio & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oberlin, Ohio | $67,366 | $25,112 | $26,000 | 80.9% | 2,974 |
| Ohio (state median) | $7,491 | $12,090 | $14,211 | 46.0% | 429,089 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Oberlin, Ohio vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oberlin, Ohio | $58,343 | 74.4% | 91.0% | 1.3% | — | 86.7% | 0.45 |
| Ohio (state median) | $52,581 | 90.9% | 74.1% | 5.6% | — | 73.0% | 0.47 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Ohio (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oberlin, Ohio | $67,366 | $25,112 | $26,000 | 80.9% | 2,974 | $58,343 | 74.4% |
| Columbus | $21,028 | $23,812 | $14,750 | 47.4% | 79,719 | $53,018 | 89.9% |
| Columbus | $21,028 | $23,812 | $14,750 | 47.4% | 79,719 | $53,018 | 89.9% |
| Columbus | $21,028 | $23,812 | $14,750 | 47.4% | 79,719 | $53,018 | 89.9% |
| Cincinnati | $16,836 | $20,018 | $14,858 | 56.7% | 45,270 | $54,810 | 91.2% |
| Cleveland | $32,638 | $25,956 | $17,534 | 64.9% | 31,334 | $52,131 | 85.9% |
| Cleveland | $32,638 | $25,956 | $17,534 | 64.9% | 31,334 | $52,131 | 85.9% |
| Dayton | $14,822 | $15,415 | $12,403 | 41.7% | 28,536 | $62,518 | 92.4% |
| Dayton | $14,822 | $15,415 | $12,403 | 41.7% | 28,536 | $62,518 | 92.4% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Oberlin, Ohio by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
-
Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 80.9%, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Top college in Oberlin, Ohio by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 74.4%, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Most selective college in Oberlin, Ohio (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
-
Rank 1, Admission Rate, 34.2%, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Top college in Oberlin, Ohio by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
-
Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $61,713, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Top college in Oberlin, Ohio by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
-
Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $129,395, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Top college in Oberlin, Ohio by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,871, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Top college in Oberlin, Ohio by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $46,579, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Top college in Oberlin, Ohio by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $58,343, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Top college in Oberlin, Ohio by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $45,754, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Most affordable college in Oberlin, Ohio (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
-
Rank 1, Net Price, $38,645, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Top college in Oberlin, Ohio by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 91.0%, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
In-state tuition: Oberlin, Ohio vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Oberlin, Ohio median in-state tuition is $67,366, +1122.2% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Oberlin, Ohio vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Oberlin, Ohio is $26,000 (+95.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,211.
Median earnings (10 years out): Oberlin, Ohio vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Oberlin, Ohio center around $58,343 (+7.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Oberlin, Ohio vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 74.4% at the median Oberlin, Ohio campus (-13.6 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Oberlin, Ohio median public in-state tuition is $67,366, about +1122.2% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +1097.6%.
Median graduate debt is $26,000 (+95.9% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Oberlin, Ohio are $58,343, about +7.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 74.4% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-13.6 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 91.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 1.3% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 86.7% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Oberlin College (74.4%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Oberlin, Ohio is 80.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Oberlin?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Oberlin, Ohio with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Oberlin?
Median in-state tuition in Oberlin is $67,366 and median net price is $25,112. For Ohio overall, medians are $7,491 and $12,090; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Oberlin?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Oberlin is $58,343 vs $52,581 for Ohio and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Oberlin colleges?
Median completer debt in Oberlin is $26,000 vs $14,211 for Ohio and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Oberlin?
Top campuses on this page include Oberlin College (graduation) and Oberlin College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Oberlin?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Oberlin, Ohio, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Ohio college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON