Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.71
Liaison Bridget Flynn
Submission Date Feb. 15, 2012
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.0

Oberlin College
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Colin Koffel
Environmental Sustainability Fellow
Office of Environmental Sustainability
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Does the institution have policies and programs in place to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s participation in federal TRIO programs:
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A brief description of the institution’s policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students?:

Oberlin College has been a recognized leader in providing access to students regardless of race, creed or color since its founding in 1833. Oberlin meets 100% of students' demonstrated need; approximately 70 percent of students receive some form of financial aid, a far higher percentage than at most of its peer schools. Financial aid has increased 280% over the past 14 years and now accounts for more than one-quarter of the college's budget, a ranking among the highest of any college or university in the country. Financial aid packages include a moderate amount of work study and student loans with a heavy focus on grant assistance (80-85%). The Oberlin Access Initiative provides loan-free aid packages to students from the most disadvantaged families.


A brief description of the institution’s programs to equip the institution's faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:

Oberlin's participation in POSSE and Student Academic Services (including the Class Dean system which works actively with faculty) provide significant resources to help faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds.


A brief description of the institution’s programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:

The Office of Academic Services provides focused services for low-income students, first-generation students, students with disabilities, and other students typically underrepresented in higher education. The Bonner Center for Service and Learning's Bonner Scholars Program provides a community service scholarship and support to students with a high financial need.


A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:

Oberlin meets 100% of students' demonstrated need with aid packages that are predominantly grants. The Oberlin Access Initiative provides loan-free aid packages to students from the most disadvantaged families.


A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:

Website devoted to helping everyone through. Net price calculator by Nov 1 (like all institutions). Panels and info sessions. Students that might have challenges (first-gen, rural school, etc.) do additional outreach.


A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:

We make a strong effort to reach out to students to underrepresented backgrounds in a variety of ways including working with national college access programs like Posse and QuestBridge, which are particularly unique as we offer all Posse Scholars full tuition scholarships and full no loan packages to QuestBridge Scholars. We have also created partnerships with organizations like College Horizons, 21st century scholars Atlanta, Georgia and Yes Prep in Texas. Additionally, each counselor is charged with reaching out to several community based organizations in each of their traveling territories. Generally, each counselor offers their time to lead workshops on the college admissions process and financial aid to students and families who are less familiar with the college admissions process.

Our strongest institutional policy that makes Oberlin accessible to low income students is our commitment to meet the full need of any student who is admitted to Oberlin College through a combined package of grant money, loans, and work study.


A brief description of the institution’s other admissions policies and programs:
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A brief description of the institution’s other financial aid polices or programs:

Very generous outside scholarship policy (as long as merit and not need-based, it's additive on top of grant assistance). Robust work-study on and off campus (BCSL). Bonner Scholar program. Office of Undergrad Research. Institution works hard to control student borrowing (our levels have remained level for about a decade).


A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs not covered above:
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The website URL where information about programs in each of the areas listed above is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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