Campaign Lights Way Forward

Whenever passers-by on streets that border Tappan Square see brilliantly colored Japanese lanterns hanging from light posts and sturdy tree branches, they know Oberlin’s Commencement & Reunion weekend is approaching. This practice of illuminating the campus walkways first occurred in 1860. It became an annual tradition in 1903, after the college purchased several thousand lanterns.

This concept of illumination also is the theme for the institution’s recently launched fundraising campaign that so far has generated $175 million. This seven-year, $250 million effort will broaden access to an Oberlin education, enhance the campus community, enrich academics, and better position students for success after they graduate.

Photograph by Dale Preston ’83

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Oberlin is a place of
intense energy and creativity,

built on a foundation of
academic, artistic, & musical excellence.
With its longstanding commitments to
access, diversity, & inclusion,
Oberlin is the ideal laboratory in which to
study and design the world we want.

Photo by John Petersen

Oberlin is the only institution
where a top-ranked liberal arts college
and a world-renowned conservatory of music
share a seamless student culture & campus,
including an art museum
that is known as one of the best in the country.

Photo by John Seyfried

Oberlin has been on the front lines
of changing the world for almost two centuries,
often serving as the prototype for progress
even in the face of strong resistance.

Photo by John Seyfried

When you ask our alumni
what they value most

about their Oberlin experiences, most will say
their life-long relationships with our faculty.
Please explore our college departments,
conservatory departments, and course catalog
to get a sense of the many things you can study here.

Photo by Scott Goldsmith

Green issues are of critical importance to us.
We have partnered with the city of Oberlin
to develop the ultimate working model of
full-spectrum sustainability.

Learn about Oberlin, straight from the source.

Stories Project Our Blogs Virtual Tour Photos Videos

Lives of Obies, straight from the source.

On Taking a Gap Year

by Dara Lehrer ’16

I asked several of my friends why they took a gap year, what they did during their gap year, and what personal value it has had to them. Here is what they had to say.

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Transfer Talk

by Ali Post ’14

I wanted to do this project to highlight some transfer student voices, and provide prospective or incoming transfer students with advice and commiseration about the process.

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Downtown Oberlin

by Paris Achenbach ’13

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Oberlin Superlatives

by Rose Stoloff '15

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All Roads Lead to Difficult Decisions

by Marsha Lynn Bragg

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More Blog Posts

Take a look around our campus, virtually.

Wilder Bowl

Wilder Bowl is the heart of campus, a large, open grassy area surrounded by trees and dotted by benches. Almost every student passes through it daily to get to a class. Many use the space to toss a Frisbee, catch a snooze, read, and connect with friends.

Take a look around

Clonick Recording Studio

Students may reserve this state-of-the-art recording facility in the Bertram and Judith Kohl Building to rehearse and record. Acoustically excellent, the studio features high definition cameras and high-resolution audio recording systems.

Take a look around

Allen Memorial Art Museum

The Allen Memorial Art Museum is recognized as one of the five best college art museums in the United States.

Take a look around

Lemle Academic Commons

Located on the first floor of the Main Library, the Robert S. Lemle '75 and Roni Kohen-Lemle '76 Academic Commons offers extensive space for students to study, use computers, and even enjoy a cup of coffee.

Take a look around

Oberlin, Ohio

35 miles west of Cleveland
Nearest Airport: CLE

2,900 students

9% in-state, 84% out-of-state,
7% from abroad

500+ Concerts

and 40+ theater & dance
productions every year

Oberlin graduates go on to earn

More PhDs

than alumni of other undergraduate colleges

230+

Steinway grand pianos,
1,500 instruments of highest quality

$57 Million

in grants awarded to
students each year

What would you like to explore next?