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Otterbein University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 70/100

Otterbein University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Westerville, Ohio

About Otterbein University

Otterbein University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Westerville, Ohio. It enrolls 2,157 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: otterbein.edu

Acceptance: 84.5%
Graduation: 58.5%
Net Price: $19,237
Median Earnings (10yr): $53,313
Enrollment: 2,157
Student : Faculty: 12:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

70/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 69

Value 53

Affordability 49

Selectivity 43

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 84.5%, Otterbein University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

84.5%

Easy

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

22 – 28

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Otterbein University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 3.2 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Otterbein University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $19,237 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$19,237

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

31%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

53%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $35,548
Room & Board (on-campus): $13,236
Room & Board (off-campus): $9,548
Books & Supplies: $1,554
Other Expenses (on-campus): $3,262
Other Expenses (off-campus): $8,132
Total Cost of Attendance: $48,321

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$12,458
$30,001 – $48,000

$12,659
$48,001 – $75,000

$16,478
$75,001 – $110,000

$23,061
Over $110,000

$24,620

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$5,250

10% percentile

$8,750

25% percentile

$26,000

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$34,588

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $21,987 ↓ $4,013

No Pell $19,891 ↓ $6,109

Dependent students $20,500 ↓ $5,500

Independent students $25,000 ↓ $1,000

Female students $21,500 ↓ $4,500

Male students $19,500 ↓ $6,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,375, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

58% of full-time students who enrolled at Otterbein University graduate within six years, and 81% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

58%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

81%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Otterbein University earn a median of $53,313 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$53,313

Earning > $25K

80%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$42,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$53,600

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$42,800

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$43,300

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$50,400

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,800, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 10.6 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 88% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Otterbein University is home to 2,157 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled

2,157

Part-Time

First-Generation

26%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 68.9% 1,485

Black 12.5% 270

Other 6.5% 139

Hispanic 5.4% 117

Asian 3.5% 76

International 0.5% 11

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Otterbein University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Westerville, Ohio

Housing

Mostly residential 1,295 beds on campus

Adult Learners

3% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Otterbein University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 60 distinct programs across 21 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

9 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health Sciences $61K ($43K–$82K)

8 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Finance $83K ($61K–$112K)

2 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)

4 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Design $51K ($33K–$71K)

2 Programs

Communication

Public Relations $64K ($46K–$84K)
Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)

1 Program

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Otterbein University is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

12:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$201M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$75,097

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

126 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	57	45%	$80,731
Associate Professors	43	34%	$72,083
Assistant Professors	18	14%	$65,604
Instructors	3	2%	$78,805
Lecturers	5	4%	$68,729

Pros & Cons of Otterbein University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Otterbein University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Solid post-graduation earnings

CONS

No clear weaknesses in the data.

Best for: Based on the data, Otterbein University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about Otterbein University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Otterbein University.

Is Otterbein University hard to get into?

Otterbein University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 84.5%.

What is the acceptance rate at Otterbein University?

Otterbein University has an acceptance rate of 84.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What ACT score do you need for Otterbein University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Otterbein University scored between 22 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Otterbein University cost?

The average net price after aid at Otterbein University is $19,237 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Otterbein University worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,313 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,237 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Otterbein University known for?

Otterbein University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Psychology, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Otterbein University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Otterbein University are $53,313, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Otterbein University accredited?

Yes. Otterbein University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Otterbein University?

Otterbein University enrolls 2,157 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Otterbein University?

Otterbein University graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Otterbein University a public or private college?

Otterbein University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Otterbein University located?

Otterbein University is located in Westerville, Ohio.

What programs does Otterbein University offer?

Otterbein University offers 60 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Psychology, Biology.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Otterbein University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Otterbein University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.