Tuition & Fees

Oberlin’s financial aid policy is simple: we meet the full demonstrated financial need of every admitted student and also offer generous merit scholarships.

two persons on a brick walkway that goes through a park

Each year, more than two-thirds of Oberlin students receive some form of need-based financial assistance. Our three-part award package typically includes grants from the college, low-interest students loans, and work-study jobs.

Oberlin will award a renewable $10,000 Oberlin Commitment Scholarship to all new students who enroll in fall 2024. We also consider all admitted students for additional merit scholarships.

We commit more than $87 million annually to provide grant aid directly to students. This makes Oberlin affordable to many talented students who otherwise might not be able to pursue an education at Oberlin.

When you complete a financial aid application, Oberlin automatically considers you for need-based college grants and merit-based scholarships, in addition to any state and federal grants, loans, or work-study programs for which you may qualify.

The chart below details the expenses involved in an Oberlin education. A number of payment plans and options are available to help make college affordable. See the Office of Student Accounts for details.

Oberlin College Costs 2023-24
Tuition $63,700
Housing $9,398
Food $9,544
Fees * jump to footnote $946
Total $83,588
Estimated Expenses
Books $930
Personal Expenses $978
Travel varies

Student health insurance is available for purchase at a cost of $3,140 for the 2023-2024 academic year, billed in the fall semester. Students who have other adequate coverage are not required to purchase this insurance.

* jump back to reference Fees include a refundable $50 “Green Fee.” Students may waive this fee if they do not wish to support the Green Edge Fund.

Oberlin is among the few American colleges and universities that offer substantial financial aid awards to international students, but the process for applying for aid is different than for domestic students.

Financial Aid for International Students

Resources for Prospective Students

We’ve put together some information about how the financial aid process works, along with more detailed descriptions of the resources available to you and calculators to estimate your aid. To get started, explore our Financial Aid Overview page.

Resources for Current Students

To learn more about the financial aid process after your first year, see Applying for Aid: Returning Students. To learn about your bill and payment options, visit the Office of Student Accounts.