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Located in Oberlin, Ohio, just 35 miles southwest of Cleveland, is Oberlin College, a private liberal arts college and a conservatory of music. Established in 1833, Oberlin was the first institution of higher education in the United States to adopt a policy to admit African American students in 1835 and in 1841 became the first college in the nation to award bachelor degrees to women in a coeducational program. A member of the Great Lakes Association and the Five Colleges of Ohio consortium, more Oberlin graduates have gone on to earn their PhD’s than graduates of any other baccalaureate college in the nation, since 1920.
Academic Programs
Oberlin’s College of the Arts & Sciences awards Bachelor of Arts degrees and a five-year Double Degree program, BM/BA, is offered through both the Conservatory and the College. Oberlin’s Conservatory offers approximately eight undergraduate majors in more than 20 areas, while the College of Arts & Sciences offers nearly 50 academic majors with over 40 minors and concentrations. Many of Oberlin College’s departments are interdisciplinary, encouraging collaboration and allowing students to expand their disciplinary boundaries. Oberlin is made up of more than 35 departments, including Africana Studies; Archaeological Studies; Chemistry/Biochemistry; Classics; Comparative Literature; Computer Science; East Asian Studies; Environmental Studies Program; Jewish Studies; Law and Society; Musical Studies; Psychology; and Theater. Additional professional programs include Pre-Law, Premed, Business Careers, and 3-2 Engineering.Oberlin’s facilities are unsurpassed by any school its size, with its Libraries, Museums and Galleries, Performance Spaces, Research, Computing, and Technology Centers. The school’s environmental studies building features solar panels and green energy-saving features and Oberlin’s Science Center has 64-node supercomputer – the first installed at any four-year, liberal arts colleges in the US. The Conservatory of Music features exceptional facilities, including eight performance spaces and over 150 practice rooms, almost all with windows.
Student Life
Nearly 3,000 students are enrolled at Oberlin College, with a student population that is approximately 54% female, 46% male, and nearly 85% of students coming from out of state. Oberlin’s campus is made up of a dynamic and interactive community that features nearly 150 student-led organizations and a thriving cultural arts community. More than 500 concerts and recitals, forty theater and dance productions, and two Opera Theater productions are put on each year. An NCAA Division III school, Oberlin is also part of the North coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and sponsors over twenty varsity sports.Oberlin provides students with a traditional college and living experience which is designed to bring students from many interests and majors together. Several residential halls dot the campus, each with its own culture and amenities. Several dining co-ops exist on campus, half of which are connected to the residential housing co-ops. Village Housing, made up of college-owned houses and apartments are also available for fourth-year students. This popular housing option includes small domestic-style houses as well as several styles of apartments.