Night view of downtown Oberlin
A night view of the Oberlin business district along College Street.
Photo credit: Greg Pendolino

Mission and Values

Oberlin College and Conservatory, an independent coeducational institution, holds a distinguished place among American colleges and universities. Oberlin was the first college to grant undergraduate degrees to women in a coeducational program and, historically, was a leader in the education of African Americans. The Oberlin community is known for its academic and musical excellence and its commitment to social engagement and diversity.

Oberlin uniquely combines an outstanding professional school of music with a leading undergraduate college of arts and sciences. The Oberlin Conservatory of Music provides flexible programs to prepare students as professional musicians and teachers of music. Deeply committed to academic excellence, the College of Arts and Sciences offers a rich and balanced curriculum in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences. Within that framework the college expects that students will work closely with the faculty to design an educational program appropriate to their own particular interests, needs, and long-term goals.

Oberlin seeks a disparate and promising student body. Recognizing that diversity broadens perspectives, Oberlin is dedicated to recruiting a culturally, economically, geographically, and racially diverse group of students. Interaction with others of widely different backgrounds and experiences fosters the effective, concerned participation in the larger society so characteristic of Oberlin graduates.

Oberlin seeks students who are talented, highly motivated, personally mature, and tolerant of divergent views. The conservatory in particular seeks talented musicians with considerable potential for further growth and development. Performance is central to all of the curricula including music education, history, theory, composition, and technology.

 

Mission Statement

Oberlin educates students for lives of intellectual, musical, and creative exploration, sustained inquiry and innovation, and leadership. We prepare graduates with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives essential to confront complex issues and to create positive change in the world.

Oberlin is committed to educational access and opportunity. We offer a diverse and inclusive residential learning environment that encourages a free and respectful exchange of ideas, and we share an enduring commitment to a sustainable and just society.

Our Commitments

We are committed to ideas and initiatives that will lead toward one goal: a more sustainable, respectful, and interconnected world for all.

Climate Commitment

It’s not just about recycling. For us, it means that we conserve energy, eat foods grown locally, reuse materials, and pursue a carbon neutral future.

Discover our sustainability initiatives

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Global Perspective

Learning to think globally is a fundamental characteristic of an Oberlin education. This perspective isn’t limited to classes, but shines through in the experiences, living and learning spaces, and activities available to students.

Explore our global perspective

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Community Service

Oberlin students, faculty, and staff dedicate their time and academic pursuits to enrich and support the local and global community. Many serve through tutoring, literacy, landscaping, and more.

Explore community service

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Diversity and Social Justice

Oberlin College acknowledges the distinctive cultural identities and histories of those who live, study, and work here while encouraging them to intentionally engage with those whose experiences and perspectives are different from their own.

Discover Diversity and Social Justice

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Honor Code

Why are Obies willing to pledge to an Honor Code? It provides the foundation for the intellectual freedom that is encouraged and shared by all members of the academic community. We know that true academic freedom requires honesty, integrity, and responsibility.

Browse the Honor Code

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Our Traditions

Like most schools, Oberlin has its enduring traditions—from the Drag Ball to decorating mortar boards for Commencement. Unlike most schools, some of them get a little quirky. Discover the customs we value that make Oberlin special.

Oberlin Traditions
The Rock

Additional Resources

Arts and Culture

Our small campus has a huge art scene—a museum of more than 15,000 works, 500 concerts a year, and plenty of places to create and perform.