Oberlin College
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Oberlin College has been a recognized leader in providing access to students regardless of race, creed or color since its founding in 1833. Oberlin meets 100% of students' demonstrated need; approximately 70 percent of students receive some form of financial aid, a far higher percentage than at most of its peer schools. Financial aid has increased 280% over the past 14 years and now accounts for more than one-quarter of the college's budget, a ranking among the highest of any college or university in the country. Financial aid packages include a moderate amount of work study and student loans with a heavy focus on grant assistance (80-85%). The Oberlin Access Initiative provides loan-free aid packages to students from the most disadvantaged families.

Oberlin's participation in POSSE and Student Academic Services (including the Class Dean system which works actively with faculty) provide significant resources to help faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds.

The Office of Academic Services provides focused services for low-income students, first-generation students, students with disabilities, and other students typically underrepresented in higher education. The Bonner Center for Service and Learning's Bonner Scholars Program provides a community service scholarship and support to students with a high financial need.

Oberlin meets 100% of students' demonstrated need with aid packages that are predominantly grants. The Oberlin Access Initiative provides loan-free aid packages to students from the most disadvantaged families.

Website devoted to helping everyone through the progress. Net price calculator is another tool that can assist families in planning the costs of their higher education experience. Panels and info sessions are also offered to low-income students and their families. Students that might have specific challenges, such as first generation students, are also supported by the Multicultural Resource Center.

We make a strong effort to reach out to students to underrepresented backgrounds in a variety of ways including working with national college access programs like Posse and QuestBridge, which are particularly unique as we offer all Posse Scholars full tuition scholarships and full no loan packages to QuestBridge Scholars. We have also created partnerships with organizations like College Horizons, 21st century scholars Atlanta, Georgia and Yes Prep in Texas. Additionally, each counselor is charged with reaching out to several community based organizations in each of their traveling territories. Generally, each counselor offers their time to lead workshops on the college admissions process and financial aid to students and families who are less familiar with the college admissions process. Oberlin's Multicultural Visit Program (MVP) is a selective, all-expenses-paid visit program for high-achieving high school seniors. We encourage applications from students from diverse backgrounds such as Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Hispanic/Latino/a/x, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. To support socioeconomic diversity, the selection committee will also consider students from families with limited financial resources, regardless of cultural or racial background, as well as those who are among the first in their families to attend college (first generation). Our strongest institutional policy that makes Oberlin accessible to low income students is our commitment to meet the full need of any student who is admitted to Oberlin College through a combined package of grant money, loans, and work study.

Oberlin College has been a recognized leader in providing access to students regardless of race, creed or color since its founding in 1833. Oberlin meets 100% of students' demonstrated need; approximately 70 percent of students receive some form of financial aid, a far higher percentage than at most of its peer schools. Financial aid has increased 280% over the past 14 years and now accounts for more than one-quarter of the college's budget, a ranking among the highest of any college or university in the country. Financial aid packages include a moderate amount of work study and student loans with a heavy focus on grant assistance (80-85%). The Oberlin Access Initiative provides loan-free aid packages to students from the most disadvantaged families.

Very generous outside scholarship policy (as long as merit and not need-based, it's additive on top of grant assistance). Robust work-study on and off campus (BCSL). Bonner Scholar program. Office of Undergrad Research. Institution works hard to control student borrowing (our levels have remained level for about a decade).

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Percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution's policies and programs to support low-income students are derived by taking the number of students determined to have financial need by the total number of incoming students (per 2014 here: http://oberlin.edu/instres/irhome/www/cds/2014/)