Oberlin College vs Hampshire College

Oberlin College and Hampshire College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Oberlin, with an acceptance rate of 32%, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on the arts, while Hampshire, with an acceptance rate of 48%, emphasizes interdisciplinary studies and experiential learning. While both colleges offer a wide range of majors, Oberlin is known for its strengths in music, theater, and creative writing, while Hampshire is renowned for its programs in social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary studies. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these institutions' unique offerings, including graduation rates, student demographics, and popular majors, and make an informed decision about which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Hampshire College	Oberlin College
Overview
Location	Amherst, Massachusetts	Oberlin, Ohio
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	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	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	72.0%	91.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	75.1%	34.3%
Application fees		Undergraduate: $100 Graduate: $100
SAT range	N/A	1338 - 1460
ACT range	N/A	30 - 34
Students submitting SAT score		34.0%
Students submitting ACT score		22.0%
Total number of applicants	1,340	10,597
Total number of admissions given out	1,007	3,639
Admitted students who chose to enroll	133	864
Yield rate	13.2%	23.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$66,658	$73,914
Average net price	$30,168	$44,689
Tuition	$51,000	$59,384
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $8,520 Meal plan: $5,912	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 $36,653	93.0% Average amount $34,607
Students receiving federal student loan	64.0% Average amount $4,793	34.0% Average amount $5,142
Students taking out private loans	1.0% Average amount $8,793	4.0% Average amount $4,519

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	472 Men 38.1% Women 61.9%	2,942 Men 41.6% Women 58.4%
Graduate students	N/A	11 Men 72.7% Women 27.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	6.4%	11.1%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	Town: Fringe
Dormitory capacity	1,180	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	Visual & Performing Arts English Language and Literature Social Sciences Biological and Biomedical Sciences Ethnic Studies	Visual & Performing Arts Social Sciences Foreign Languages and Literatures Ethnic Studies Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio	11:1	9:1
Institutional accreditation	New England Commission on Higher Education	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	62.4%	82.3%
Dropout rate	37.3%	17.3%
Transferred out	N/A	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $19,720 Year 2: $19,829 Year 3: $23,704	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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