At $39,184/yr net price, Oberlin College graduates earn $58,343/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $24,343/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $39,184 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $156,736 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,343/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$24,343/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 6.4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 79.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $19,257/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,640/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,475/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $36,946/yr |
| $110,001+ | $48,245/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $76,460 | $26,000 |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $41,205 | $25,000 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor | $29,685 | $23,250 |
| Sociology. | Bachelor | $28,236 | |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | Bachelor | $27,750 | |
| Anthropology. | Bachelor | $25,194 | |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $23,456 | $23,250 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | Bachelor | $22,771 | |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor | $21,508 | $23,250 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $21,508 | $23,750 |
The Risk Factor
79.5% of students at Oberlin College graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 21% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Oberlin's ROI is mixed and leans expensive. You pay a $39,184 net price on average for median earnings of $58,343 ten years out, which puts a real gap between what you spend and what you make early in your career. The 79.5% grad rate and 88.78% retention are solid, so the risk of paying without finishing is low. The financial risk here is program choice, not dropping out.
The earnings spread by major is the whole story at Oberlin. Computer and Information Sciences graduates clear $76,460, more than double what Political Science ($29,685), Sociology ($28,236), and Neurobiology ($27,750) graduates earn. Economics lands in the middle at $41,205. If you major in one of the humanities or social sciences that Oberlin is built around, your first decade of earnings can sit below $30,000 while you carry the same roughly $26,000 median debt as a CS graduate. That debt is manageable on a computer science salary and heavy on a sociology one.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $48k, you pay between $13,640 and $19,257, well under the sticker average. From $48-75k the price jumps to $23,475, and above $110k you pay $48,245. The steep climb between the $48-75k and $75-110k brackets ($23,475 to $36,946) means middle-income families absorb the biggest cost increase for the smallest income change.
Oberlin makes financial sense if you qualify for the lower net-price tiers or plan to major in computer science or economics. If you are paying near full price for a low-earning humanities major, run the debt math first. The salary won't cover it fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oberlin College worth the cost?
Oberlin graduates earn $58,343 annually after 10 years, which is below average for a school costing $39,184 per year. The computer science program shows strong returns at $76,460, but most other majors produce modest earnings that may not justify the high tuition.
What is the return on investment for Oberlin College?
Oberlin's ROI varies dramatically by major, with computer science graduates earning $76,460 compared to sociology majors at $28,236. The $26,000 median debt load is manageable, but overall earnings lag behind other selective colleges with similar costs.
Does Oberlin College provide good financial aid?
Oberlin's average net price of $39,184 represents significant financial aid for most families, bringing costs down from the full sticker price. However, this is still expensive relative to the career outcomes most programs deliver.
What are the highest paying majors at Oberlin College?
Computer science leads Oberlin's earnings at $76,460, followed by economics at $41,205. Liberal arts majors like political science ($29,685) and sociology ($28,236) show much lower returns despite the same tuition cost.