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Otterbein University

Westerville, Ohio · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Suburb

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Official website

At a glance

Average net price
$19,237What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
85%
Graduation rate
68%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
2,157
In-state tuition
$35,548Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$35,548
SAT midpoint
1,131
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$53,313Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$19,237

Better than 70% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

68%

Better than 72% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$53,313

Better than 47% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$26,000

Better than 28% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$48,321

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$19,237

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Otterbein University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time68%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return80%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$26,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$53,313

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Otterbein University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$69,28747
Systems Engineering$63,24311
Finance and Financial Management Services$55,36414
Business Administration, Management and Operations$44,68931
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$38,65129
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$37,43022
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$31,85131
Communication and Media Studies$31,20721
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$30,58127
Psychology, General$29,60439
Biology, General$24,34138
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management$19,80123
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$12,54622
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported23
CriminologyNot reported15
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reported12
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory ProgramsNot reported11
Mechanical EngineeringNot reported10
Accounting and Related ServicesNot reported10
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported10
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported10
MusicNot reported9
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsNot reported8
HistoryNot reported8
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported8
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported8
Agricultural and Domestic Animal ServicesNot reported7
MathematicsNot reported7
MarketingNot reported7
SociologyNot reported7
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reported7
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported6
Public HealthNot reported6
English Language and Literature/Letters, OtherNot reported6
EconomicsNot reported5
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsNot reported5
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported5
Political Science and GovernmentNot reported5
Education, GeneralNot reported5
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported4
Sustainability StudiesNot reported4
ChemistryNot reported3
International BusinessNot reported2
PhilosophyNot reported2
International Relations and National Security StudiesNot reported2
Philosophy and Religious Studies, GeneralNot reported1
Business/Corporate CommunicationsNot reported1
Special Education and TeachingNot reported1
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/TechniciansNot reported1
PhysicsNot reported1
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Environmental/Environmental Health EngineeringNot reportedNot reported
Public AdministrationNot reportedNot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported
Engineering PhysicsNot reportedNot reported
Human Resources Management and ServicesNot reportedNot reported

All 56 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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