Oberlin vs. Lawrence

Should I go to Oberlin College or Lawrence University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Oberlin or Lawrence 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Kenyon Denison Grinnell Case Western Macalester College Vassar St Olaf Carleton College Wooster Hamilton College U of R Brandeis University
Oberlin College vs. Lawrence University comparison
Oberlin College Lawrence University College 3 College 4
Oberlin College Lawrence University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Oberlin Lawrence
Location Oberlin, OH Appleton, WI
Setting Midsize Suburban Small City
Enrollment 2,992 1,426
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #148 #207
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website oberlin.edu lawrence.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Oberlin Lawrence
Tuition (In State) $61,106 $53,667
Tuition (Out of State) $61,106 $53,667
Room & Board $18,390 $11,520
Avg Net Price $46,462 $26,368
Avg Grant Aid $35,040 $40,089
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Oberlin Lawrence
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,066 2,943
Admitted 3,859 2,127
Acceptance Rate 34.9% 72.3%
Enrolled % 22.9% 17.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.52
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 30/33 27/32
SAT Range 1360/1530 1210/1460
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 15, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Oberlin Lawrence
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

Oberlin Lawrence
Graduation Rate 88% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,900 $45,600
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,579 $27,350
Median Loan Payment $274 $282

Diversity

Oberlin Lawrence
% Men 41% 46%
% Women 59% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 68% 70%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 8% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 4%
% International 8% 10%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Oberlin Lawrence
% In-State 6% 22%
% Out-of-State 84% 68%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Oberlin College is larger than than Lawrence based on total student enrollment (2,992 students vs. 1,426 students)

Oberlin vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin or Lawrence?

  • Oberlin College is 13.9% more expensive to attend than Lawrence for in-state tuition ($61,106.00 vs. $53,667.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.9% higher at Oberlin than Lawrence University ($61,106.00 vs. $53,667.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lawrence University than Oberlin ($26,368 vs. $46,462)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawrence University are 59.6% lower than costs at Oberlin College ($11,520 vs. $18,390)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lawrence University than Oberlin College (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lawrence University students is 14.4% larger than aid received Oberlin College ($40,089 vs. $35,040)

Oberlin vs. Lawrence Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Oberlin students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Lawrence (3.52)
  • Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (72.3%) than Oberlin (34.9%)

Oberlin vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Oberlin or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence and Oberlin.

  • The graduation rate at Oberlin is higher than Lawrence University (88% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Lawrence University earn on average $1,700 more per year than Oberlin graduates after ten years. ($45,600 vs. $43,900)
  • Oberlin College students graduate with a $771 lower median federal student loan debt than Lawrence graduates. ($26,579 vs. $27,350)
  • Oberlin graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Lawrence graduates. ($274 vs. $282)
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 76%)

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