Northwestern vs. Oberlin

Should I go to Northwestern University or Oberlin College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northwestern or Oberlin is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Northwestern University vs. Oberlin College comparison
Northwestern University Oberlin College College 3 College 4
Northwestern University Oberlin College
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Overview

Northwestern Oberlin
Location Evanston, IL Oberlin, OH
Setting Small City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 23,161 2,992
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #15 #148
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northwestern.edu oberlin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern Oberlin
Tuition (In State) $62,391 $61,106
Tuition (Out of State) $62,391 $61,106
Room & Board $19,440 $18,390
Avg Net Price $22,095 $46,462
Avg Grant Aid $61,716 $35,040
% Receiving Grant Aid 50% 98%

Admission

Northwestern Oberlin
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 51,261 11,066
Admitted 3,695 3,859
Acceptance Rate 7.2% 34.9%
Enrolled % 55.2% 22.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.92 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme High
ACT Range 33/35 30/33
SAT Range 1490/1570 1360/1530
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Northwestern Oberlin
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Northwestern Oberlin
Graduation Rate 94% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $89,800 $43,900
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,378 $26,579
Median Loan Payment $200 $274

Diversity

Northwestern Oberlin
% Men 46% 41%
% Women 54% 59%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 50% 68%
% Black 6% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 8% 8%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Northwestern Oberlin
% In-State 22% 6%
% Out-of-State 67% 84%

Campus

Northwestern Oberlin
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern University is larger than than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (23,161 students vs. 2,992 students)

Northwestern vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or Oberlin?

  • Northwestern University is 2.1% more expensive to attend than Oberlin for in-state tuition ($62,391.00 vs. $61,106.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.1% higher at Northwestern than Oberlin College ($62,391.00 vs. $61,106.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern University than Oberlin ($22,095 vs. $46,462)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oberlin College are 5.7% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($18,390 vs. $19,440)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Oberlin College than Northwestern University (98% vs. 50%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 76.1% larger than aid received Oberlin College ($61,716 vs. $35,040)

Northwestern vs. Oberlin Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern or Oberlin? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Oberlin or Northwestern .

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 103 points higher than at Oberlin (1357)
  • Incoming Northwestern students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Oberlin (31)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Oberlin (3.67)
  • Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.9%) than Northwestern (7.2%)

Northwestern vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern or Oberlin? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Oberlin and Northwestern.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than Oberlin College (94% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $45,900 more per year than Oberlin graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $43,900)
  • Northwestern University students graduate with a $7,201 lower median federal student loan debt than Oberlin graduates. ($19,378 vs. $26,579)
  • Northwestern graduates are paying $74 less per month on federal student loans than Oberlin graduates. ($200 vs. $274)
  • More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/