Oberlin College and Conservatory launches $100,000 Midwest Merit Scholarship

Oberlin loves the Midwest, and we couldn’t be prouder of our home state of Ohio and the Midwest region. Much like Oberlin College and Conservatory, the Midwest defies easy definition. We are home to bustling cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, and Cleveland, which are centers of finance, manufacturing, and healthcare, as well as agricultural powerhouse states such as Iowa and Nebraska, home to both urban centers and small rural towns. The future of the Midwest is bright, with our diverse natural beauty, access to natural resources, and central location. 

For almost two centuries, Oberlin alumni have made important contributions to the Midwest, from its culture to its economy. We know an Oberlin education can be a solid foundation for growth and innovation. Students from the Midwest are more likely to stay here after graduation, which is why we’re focused on making Oberlin more accessible to Midwestern families.

“We believe in the potential of Midwestern students to lead and contribute to their communities, and we know that an Oberlin education can be a transformative experience for them,” says Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar. “By making Oberlin more accessible to families across the region, we're investing not just in our students but in the future of the Midwest itself."

Students have countless reasons to attend college in the Midwest—and specifically Oberlin. Just steps from campus are coffeehouses, shops, galleries, restaurants featuring many types of cuisine, miles of biking paths, and a 22-acre nature preserve. Nearby Cleveland offers a vibrant music, arts, food, and professional sports scene. Northeast Ohio also boasts Cleveland Clinic, one of the world’s top medical centers; some of the world’s fastest and tallest roller coasters at Cedar Point; the internationally renowned Cleveland Orchestra; and miles of beaches and parks along the Lake Erie shoreline. The Midwest Merit Scholarship offers an additional incentive for students to attend college here. 

“Each year, I have the privilege of welcoming the world’s best and brightest students—many of them from the Midwest—to Oberlin,” says Manuel Carballo, Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. “These students enrich our campus and give back to our local and regional communities. Our hope is that the Midwest Merit Scholarship will encourage more of these talented students to join us at Oberlin.”

The Midwest Merit Scholarship will be awarded automatically to new, enrolling students from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas.

Read full details about program eligibility requirements.