Oberlin College vs Smith College

Oberlin College and Smith College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Oberlin, located in Ohio, boasts a slightly higher acceptance rate (33%) compared to Smith's (28%). While both colleges excel in the humanities and social sciences, Oberlin is known for its strong music and conservatory programs, while Smith emphasizes interdisciplinary studies and has a higher percentage of female students. With a diverse student body, Oberlin has a slightly larger undergraduate population than Smith, which fosters a vibrant and inclusive campus community. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Oberlin's at 86% and Smith's at 87%, indicating their commitment to student success. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these exceptional colleges and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Oberlin College logo

Oberlin College

Smith College logo

Smith College

Overview

Location Oberlin, Ohio Northampton, Massachusetts
Campus setting Town: Fringe Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system 4-1-4 Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 91.0% 95.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 34.3% 29.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $100

Graduate: $100
$60
SAT range 1338 - 1460 1370 - 1530
ACT range 30 - 34 31 - 34
Students submitting SAT score 34.0% 34.0%
Students submitting ACT score 22.0% 20.0%
Total number of applicants 10,597 6,064
Total number of admissions given out 3,639 1,814
Admitted students who chose to enroll 864 676
Yield rate 23.7% 37.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not 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 $73,914 $68,128
Average net price $44,689 $29,569
Tuition $59,384 $55,830
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,858

Meal plan: $8,996
Room/dormitory: $9,700

Meal plan: $9,720
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

93.0%
Average amount $34,607
70.0%
Average amount $44,108
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $5,142
35.0%
Average amount $3,560
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $4,519
5.0%
Average amount $8,280

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,942
Men 41.6% Women 58.4%
2,566
Men 0.1% Women 99.9%
Graduate students 11
Men 72.7% Women 27.3%
358
Men 16.2% Women 83.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 11.1% 13.4%
Campus local/setting Town: Fringe Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,694 2,519
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Mississippi New York California Connecticut Maryland

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Social Sciences
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Mathematics and Statistics
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.3% 91.0%
Dropout rate 17.3% 3.6%
Transferred out N/A 5.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,496
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $70,990
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $47,650
  • Year 3: $56,651
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,011
  • Year 2: $45,554
  • Year 3: $53,962
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $46,620
  • Year 3: $53,886
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,098
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $48,619
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,776
  • Year 2: $39,153
  • Year 3: $43,120
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $31,839
  • Year 3: $41,147
Research and Experimental Psychology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,006
  • Year 2: $18,566
  • Year 3: $41,145
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,954
  • Year 2: $28,019
  • Year 3: $40,411
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $34,603
  • Year 3: $38,497

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