Oberlin College vs Hillsdale College

Oberlin College and Hillsdale College, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer contrasting educational experiences. Oberlin, a liberal arts college in Ohio, boasts a diverse student body and a strong commitment to social justice. With an acceptance rate of 32%, it attracts students from various backgrounds who pursue popular majors like Psychology, Biology, and Economics. On the other hand, Hillsdale College, a private liberal arts college in Michigan, emphasizes a classical education rooted in Western tradition. Its acceptance rate of 56% reflects a more selective admissions process, and its student body is predominantly white and conservative. Popular majors at Hillsdale include Economics, History, and Political Science. Both colleges offer a unique blend of academic rigor and extracurricular opportunities, but their contrasting characteristics make them suitable for different types of students. Explore the comparison table to discover which college aligns better with your academic aspirations and personal values.
Hillsdale College logo

Hillsdale College

Oberlin College logo

Oberlin College

Overview

Location Hillsdale, Michigan Oberlin, Ohio
Campus setting Town: Distant Town: Fringe
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 94.0% 91.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Undenominational

Admission

Acceptance rate 23.7% 34.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $25
Undergraduate: $100

Graduate: $100
SAT range 1340 - 1510 1338 - 1460
ACT range 30 - 34 30 - 34
Students submitting SAT score 22.0% 34.0%
Students submitting ACT score 38.0% 22.0%
Total number of applicants 2,994 10,597
Total number of admissions given out 709 3,639
Admitted students who chose to enroll 397 864
Yield rate 56.0% 23.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $45,382 $73,914
Average net price $24,057 $44,689
Tuition $28,730 $59,384
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,020

Meal plan: $6,120
Room/dormitory: $8,858

Meal plan: $8,996
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $20,535
93.0%
Average amount $34,607
Students receiving federal student loan 0.0%
Average amount $0
34.0%
Average amount $5,142
Students taking out private loans 34.0%
Average amount $10,497
4.0%
Average amount $4,519

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,515
Men 50.6% Women 49.4%
2,942
Men 41.6% Women 58.4%
Graduate students 87
Men 67.8% Women 32.2%
11
Men 72.7% Women 27.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity N/A
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students N/A 11.1%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant Town: Fringe
Dormitory capacity 1,124 2,694
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Social Sciences
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 8:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 87.6% 82.3%
Dropout rate 8.3% 17.3%
Transferred out 3.9% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,028
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $101,858
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,721
  • Year 2: $41,205
  • Year 3: $56,067
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,275
  • Year 2: $21,508
  • Year 3: $32,173
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $19,045
  • Year 3: $28,960
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,436
  • Year 2: $16,345
  • Year 3: $26,082
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $22,771
  • Year 3: $22,024
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,910
  • Year 2: $19,531
  • Year 3: $19,799
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,902
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $16,622
  • Year 2: $18,771
  • Year 3: N/A
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $16,992
  • Year 3: N/A

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