Oberlin College's Financial Aid Opportunities for Students
Financial Assistance Office
For students seeking financial assistance, Oberlin College offers several options to help make higher education more accessible. Here's a breakdown of the scholarships available and their specific requirements.
Oberlin Commitment Scholarship
The Oberlin Commitment Scholarship is a merit-based award given to incoming students at Oberlin College. All admitted students are automatically considered for this scholarship, with no separate application required. The minimum annual award for this scholarship is $10,000. The basis of selection is primarily academic achievement and community contributions, reflecting Oberlin's commitment to recognizing and rewarding academic excellence and community involvement.
While the scholarship is renewable each year, the exact terms for renewal are not publicly listed. Prospective students should check with the financial aid office for the exact terms.
Midwest Merit Scholarship (Unspecified)
There is no direct reference to a "Midwest Merit Scholarship" in the available search results for Oberlin College. However, it is known that Oberlin offers merit scholarships based on academics as well as contributions to the student’s school and home community.
For all merit scholarships, applicants must submit the Common Application (with a fee, though waivers are available), and additional materials such as prescreening recordings, music teacher recommendations, and an on-campus audition for conservatory applicants. The award criteria for these scholarships may include geographic origin, leadership, or extracurricular involvement, though specific, undisclosed criteria may apply.
If you are specifically interested in the Midwest Merit Scholarship, contacting Oberlin’s financial aid office is the best way to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date requirements.
Key Takeaways
- The Oberlin Commitment Scholarship is guaranteed to all admitted students, with a minimum $10,000 annual award.
- For details about the Midwest Merit Scholarship, contact Oberlin’s financial aid office directly.
- For all merit-based aid at Oberlin, consideration is based on a combination of academic achievement and community contributions.
- Oberlin's admissions process emphasizes holistic review, especially for the Conservatory, where musical talent is paramount.
Applying for Financial Aid
Prospective and returning students can apply for financial aid at Oberlin College. The Federal School Code for FAFSA is 003086. For additional questions or if you cannot find the information you are looking for, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Oberlin provides tools to help families estimate their need-based financial award, such as the Quick Cost Estimator, which asks just six questions, and the Net Price Calculator, based on the Department of Education's template, which provides a more comprehensive estimate of the cost of college at Oberlin College.
It's worth noting that grants and scholarships typically make up about 75% of a student's award at Oberlin College, with the Office of Financial Aid maintaining the strictest confidentiality with students' and families' personal information. The CSS Profile Code is 1587.
Lastly, Oberlin has committed $100 million in institutional funding to provide access to an excellent education, with the college recently launching a new Midwest Merit Scholarship initiative, granting $100,000 to admitted students from Ohio and 11 additional Midwestern states over four years.
Business students exploring financial aid opportunities at Oberlin College can benefit from the university's merit-based scholarships, such as the Oberlin Commitment Scholarship guaranteed to all admitted students with a minimum $10,000 annual award. Additionally, education-and-self-development enthusiasts may be interested to know that Oberlin provides tools to estimate need-based financial awards, like the Quick Cost Estimator and the Net Price Calculator, on their website.