Otterbein University
Westerville, OH
84.5%
Acceptance Rate
$35,548
Avg Cost (In-State)
$35,548
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
68.4%
Graduation Rate
2,157
Total Enrollment
We're showing you this because it offers your suggested major.
← Back to public health collegesBy the numbers
Otterbein University, at a glance
Graduation rate is the standard federal 6-year completion rate (students often take longer than four years). Earnings & selectivity rankings are computed across every US college in our catalog. Figures from College Scorecard / IPEDS; sticker cost is before financial aid.
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
February 15
Early Deadline
November 15 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
1
Interview
Not required
Essays: Personal essay required through Common App
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$44,539
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$53,313
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
68%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $69,287 | $80,188 | 77 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | $38,651 | $47,383 | 40 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | $31,851 | $46,521 | 38 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | $37,430 | $58,065 | 25 |
| Systems Engineering. | $63,243 | — | 22 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $44,689 | $70,328 | 22 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | $31,207 | $51,006 | 21 |
| Psychology, General. | $29,604 | $49,090 | 21 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Calculate Your Cost at Otterbein University
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Ohio College Opportunity Grant
~$16k valueOhio need-based grant: $4,392/year at OH publics for low-income residents.
Who it helps: Low-income Ohio residents attending OH public or eligible private 4-year colleges.
How to use: File FAFSA. School awards automatically based on EFC.
Source ↗Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Oberlin Dean's Scholarship + Merit
$15,000-$30,000/year
universityOberlin incoming freshmen with academic merit; multiple named awards.
Deadline: January 15
Learn more ↗Ohio State Bar Foundation Scholarship
$1,000-$5,000
stateOH law students with academic merit + service.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Case Western Bolton Scholars Program
Full tuition + faculty mentor + research stipend
universityTop CWRU incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: Mid-December
Learn more ↗Ohio Nurses Association Scholarship
$1,000-$2,500
stateOH nursing students at accredited programs.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗UC President's Leadership Award
Up to full tuition
universityTop UC incoming freshmen via competitive process; combines academics + leadership.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Cleveland Foundation Scholarships
$500-$15,000
localCleveland-area students; one app routes to 100+ named scholarship funds.
Deadline: January 31
Learn more ↗Greater Cincinnati Foundation Scholarships
$500-$10,000
localGreater Cincinnati area students; multiple named funds.
Deadline: February 15
Learn more ↗Cleveland Connection Promise
Last-dollar tuition + transfer support
localCleveland Metropolitan School District HS grads with academic eligibility.
Deadline: Through CMSD
Learn more ↗Net price by income
What it actually costs your family.
Average net price (tuition, fees, room/board minus grant aid) by household income tier, AY 2023–24. Source: IPEDS NPRC1.
| Household income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | $12,458 |
| $30,001 – $48,000 | $12,659 |
| $48,001 – $75,000 | $16,478 |
| $75,001 – $110,000 | $23,061 |
| $110,001+ | $24,620 |
Cost calculator
See the full income-tier cost breakdown for Otterbein University →
Type your household income and get a per-family estimate, plus % off sticker and a methodology breakdown.
Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 84.5% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
84.53%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
30.6%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
26.1%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
18.6%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
79.9%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
67.9%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
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