Oberlin vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between Oberlin College and Virginia Tech? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Oberlin College
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oberlin #153
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oberlin -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oberlin
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oberlin 99%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oberlin 32
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oberlin B+
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oberlin High
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oberlin Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oberlin $274
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oberlin 69%
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • % Women
  • Oberlin 31%
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oberlin Medium
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Oberlin No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Oberlin 68%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Oberlin 4%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Oberlin 5%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oberlin 8%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Oberlin 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oberlin 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oberlin 6%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Oberlin 8%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oberlin 1%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oberlin 6%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Oberlin Yes
  • Virginia Tech Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Oberlin No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Meal Plan
  • Oberlin Yes
  • Virginia Tech Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Oberlin No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Oberlin No
  • Virginia Tech No

Comparable Facts

Compare Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Tech is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Oberlin College 9:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Oberlin vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin or Virginia Tech? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Tech than Oberlin ($24,912 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 15.2% lower than at Oberlin College ($16,550 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 322.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $51,418 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 78.4% higher at Oberlin than at Virginia Tech (about $29,602 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Virginia Tech (99% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 290.3% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($35,780 vs. $9,168).

Oberlin vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oberlin or Virginia Tech? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Virginia Tech and Oberlin.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 70 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Virginia Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 1360/1520; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 31/34; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oberlin - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (54.8%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Oberlin vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Oberlin vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oberlin and Virginia Tech? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Virginia Tech's (82%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $21,100 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have a $2,613 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($23,966 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($247 vs. $274).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Tech students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.