About the College of Arts and Sciences
Highlights
- Since 1920, more Oberlin graduates have gone on to earn PhDs than have graduates of any other American baccalaureate college.
- Degree programs in 47 academic majors, plus 42 minors and concentrations.
- Oberlin's Science Center features a 64-bit supercomputer - the first installed at any four-year, liberal arts college in the nation.
- Students helped to design the largest photovoltaic array in Ohio and the first entirely solar-powered academic building at any U.S. college or university.
History
Founded in 1833, Oberlin was the first institution of higher education in America to adopt a policy to admit students of color (1835) and the first college to award bachelor's degrees to women (1841) in a coeducational program.
Location
The Oberlin College campus is located on 440 acres in Oberlin, Ohio, 35 miles southwest of Cleveland.
Degree and Diploma Programs
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Music (BM)
- Performance Diploma
- Double-Degree Program (BM/BA five-year program offered jointly offered by the Conservatory and the College of Arts and Sciences)
- Combined Bachelors/Masters Programs in Opera Theater, Conducting, and Historical Performance)
- Minors
- Masters Program in Historical Performance (MM)
- Masters Program in Music Teaching (MMT)
- Artist Diploma
- Graduate Teacher Education Program
Academic Year
Two semesters with January designated as Winter Term, when students select one topic of concentration to pursue with an emphasis on self-education, creativity, and intellectual independence.
Enrollment
2,800 students (2,200 College of Arts and Sciences, 600 Conservatory of Music, including 200 double degree)
Student Body
9% in-state, 85% out-of-state, 7% from abroad; 54% female, 46% male
Student Organizations
More than 140 groups
Athletics
22 varsity teams
Geographic Distribution
| Mid-Atlantic | 31% |
| Midwest | 23% |
| New England | 11% |
| West/Southwest | 19% |
| South | 9% |
| International | 7% |
Alumni
More than 50,000 and growing; since 1920, more Obies have gone on to earn PhDs than graduates from any other predominantly undergraduate liberal arts college; three have been recipients of a Nobel Prize; seven have been awarded MacArthur "genius" Fellowships.
Tuition and Fees
| Tuition | $38,012 |
| Required Fees | $268 |
| Room | $5,150 |
| Board | $4,720 |
| Total | $48,150 |
Financial Aid
More than $43 million awarded annually to about two thirds of Oberlin students, with average aid of $29,300 (grant, loan, and work) each year.
Faculty
Student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1 (Arts and Sciences), 8:1 (Conservatory of Music); 68 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students.
Libraries
Oberlin has four libraries housing 2.4 million items: the Mudd Learning Center and three other libraries specializing in music, art, and science.
Cultural Life
More than 500 concerts and recitals, about 40 theater and dance productions and two operas each year; one of the top five college art museums in the nation
