Oberlin

Oberlin SAT and ACT Requirements

Oberlin is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1360 to 1520 on the SAT and 31 to 34 on the ACT.

2026-27 policy

Test-Optional

SAT middle 50%

1360–1520

ACT middle 50%

31–34

Acceptance rate

34%

Oberlin SAT scores by section

Section	25th percentile	75th percentile
Reading and Writing	700	760
Math	660	760
Total	1360	1520
ACT Composite	31	34

The total is the sum of the section percentiles, the standard way to estimate a middle 50% for the combined score.

Where your score puts you

Below 1360: lower than three quarters of enrolled students. A retake has the most upside here, and at a test-optional school you can also leave the score off.
1360 to 1520: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
Above 1520: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.

Other colleges where a 1360 is in range Other colleges where a 1520 is in range Convert an ACT score

Keep these numbers

Email me Oberlin's score ranges

The ranges on this page, plus a link to compare them with every other college we track.

I consent to receive transactional text messages (Conversational/Alerts, Appointments, and Booking Confirmations) from Dewey Smart at the number provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. See our Privacy Policy, Terms, and SMS Terms.

I agree to receive recurring automated marketing & promotional text messages from Dewey Smart at the number provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. See our Privacy Policy, Terms, and SMS Terms.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently asked questions

Does Oberlin require the SAT or ACT?

Oberlin is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. Test-optional since 2020 for the College of Arts & Sciences (Oberlin's primary undergraduate admissions track); the official policy page presents this as an ongoing policy with no stated end date, not a time-limited pilot. Note: Oberlin's Conservatory of Music undergraduate admissions has separate, sometimes differently-timed testing language and is not covered by this record.

What SAT score do you need for Oberlin?

The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1360, half scored between 1360 and 1520, and a quarter scored above 1520. A score at or above 1520 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1360 works against you.

What ACT score do you need for Oberlin?

The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 31 to 34 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1400 to 1500.

Score ranges: College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. They describe students who enrolled, not everyone admitted. Test policy: Oberlin admissions, verified for 2026-27.