Oberlin College
Finalists who rank Oberlin
If you are a Finalist who ranked Oberlin, your National College Match application will be sent to Oberlin, and you will need to submit the following requirements to the school by November 1. If you have questions after reviewing the information below, please view the FAQ for Oberlin Applicants or reach out to the school directly.
Requirements
Oberlin College Application Status Portal Activation
QuestBridge will send Finalists’ applications to college partners on October 16, and Oberlin College may need a couple of days to import them into their system. Once processed, Oberlin College will then email you instructions to log in and activate your applicant portal, where you can track the status of the materials you submit.
Transcripts uploaded to the QuestBridge application are accepted as official, or your high school counselor can send transcripts directly to the Admissions Office (see Contact Information below).
Oberlin College has moved to a test-optional model starting with the 2020-2022 admissions cycle and which will continue as a pilot program through the 2025-2026 application year.
SAT and ACT score submissions will still be accepted, but will no longer be required. If desired, you may submit results from SAT II subject exams. For students who would like to submit test scores, Oberlin can use self-reported SAT and ACT scores to evaluate an application for admission. Oberlin will accept official score reports from the testing agency, or scores listed on official high school transcripts.
2025-2026 CSS Profile
CSS code: 1587
Available Oct. 1
Please select Regular Decision as your admission application type.
If your parents are divorced or separated:
- Both of your biological/adoptive parent(s) will complete their own CSS Profile with different log-in credentials. It is highly recommended that the student and custodial parent start the CSS Profile first, as the non-custodial cannot submit information until the student selects a school that requires the submission of non-custodial parent information.
- Your non-custodial parent must submit the online Non-Custodial Profile after creating a separate College Board account.
- If you do not have any contact with your non-custodial parent, then you may submit a request to waive the requirement of their financial information. Download the Non-Custodial Parent Waiver Petition.
Signed, with all schedules, attachments, W-2 forms, and other earning statements. Include personal and corporate/partnership tax returns. All documents should be securely uploaded via the Oberlin Financial Aid website.
Your non-custodial parent must also submit copies of their 2023 federal income tax returns, signed with all schedules, attachments, W-2 forms and other earning statements.
Finalists who do not match may apply Early Decision to Oberlin through Early Decision II.
Applicants interested in Early Decision II must email the Admissions Office at [email protected] by January 1 to be considered.
Regular Decision Requirements:
Step 1: Select Oberlin College on the QuestBridge Regular Decision Form on your Application Management page between November 4 - December 9. Only check the box if you fully intend to submit a complete application to Oberlin College (including all of the materials detailed in the table below).
Step 2: Activate your Oberlin College Applicant Portal. QuestBridge will send Finalists’ applications to Oberlin College on December 12 and Oberlin College may need a couple days to import them into their system. Use the Oberlin College applicant portal, sent to you via email, to track the status of your materials you submit to Oberlin College.
Step 3: Submit all additional required application and financial materials by the applicable deadlines directly to Oberlin College as detailed in the table below.
Finalists who ranked Oberlin and submitted all materials (but did not match to a binding college)
Finalists who did not rank Oberlin
Common Application or Coalition Application with all supporting documents
(Optional) Only required if you choose not to forward your QuestBridge application to Oberlin.
(Optional) Only required if you choose not to forward your QuestBridge application to Oberlin.
Available through the Oberlin College applicant portal after you have forwarded your QuestBridge Application.
Available through the Oberlin College applicant portal after you have forwarded your QuestBridge Application.
Transcripts uploaded to QuestBridge by a high school counselor and forwarded to Oberlin by QuestBridge are accepted as official. Otherwise, your high school counselor must send transcripts directly to the Admissions Office (see Contact Information below).
Optional. Oberlin has moved to a test-optional model starting with the 2020-2022 admissions cycle and continuing as a pilot program through the 2022-2023 application year.
Optional. Oberlin has moved to a test-optional model starting with the 2020-2022 admissions cycle and continuing as a pilot program through the 2022-2023 application year.
Finalists who ranked Oberlin and submitted all materials (but did not match to a binding college)
Finalists who did not rank Oberlin
2025-2026 FAFSA
FAFSA Code: 001739
U.S. Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens
U.S. Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens