Otterbein University
Westerville, Ohio · Private · 2,157 undergraduates · otterbein.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Acceptance rate
85%
of applicants
Annual cost (2027-28)
$58,790Est.Estimate
before aid
Otterbein University is test optional for students starting in fall 2027: you choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. Its acceptance rate is 85%. The middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores had ACT scores of 22 to 28. A year in 2027-28 is expected to cost about $58,790 before financial aid.
Updated
Your chances and merit aid at Otterbein University
See your chances of admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
85% of applicants admitted
Target
Your ACT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
$22,000
a year, from the Trustees' Scholarship
Your cost after merit aid
$36,790
a year in 2027-28, from a $58,790 sticker price
What to do with your 1200
Not enough data to advise
There isn't enough data on this college's freshmen to say whether sending your SAT helps.
Fine-tune this advice
Named scholarships you may qualify for (4)
Full tuition
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs an application, essay or interview. · Application required
Physics Full Tuition Scholarship
Full tuition
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs an application, essay or interview, a specific major or program. · Application required
4 more awards need a higher GPA or score. See every tier
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your GPA, test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
Source: Test Optional Admission & Financial Aid Policy - Otterbein University · Checked November 3, 2026
Acceptance rate
85%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
ACT composite 22 to 28
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$58,790
a year
- Tuition$39,560
What families pay after aid
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$14,480
- $30,001 to $48,000$15,092
- $48,001 to $75,000$14,862
- $75,001 to $110,000$18,412
- Over $110,000$27,524
Financial aidEstimate
81%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
100%
of freshmen receive grants
$27,923
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
President's Scholarship
$24,000 a year
Automatic · No separate application
- 4.00+ GPA
To keep it: a 2.75 college GPA; it renews for up to 8 semesters or until you finish your first degree.
DetailsProvost's Scholarship
$23,000 a year
Automatic · No separate application
- 3.80 to 3.99 GPA
To keep it: a 2.75 college GPA; it renews for up to 8 semesters or until you finish your first degree.
DetailsTrustees' Scholarship
$22,000 a year
Automatic · No separate application
- 3.40 to 3.79 GPA
To keep it: a 2.75 college GPA; it renews for up to 8 semesters or until you finish your first degree.
DetailsOtterbein Global Scholars Diploma
$20,000 a year
Automatic · No separate application
- Earned Global Scholars Diploma (Columbus Council on World Affairs), under age 23
To keep it: a 2.75 college GPA; it renews for up to 8 semesters or until you finish your first degree.
Details
Show 4 more scholarships
Dean's Scholarship
$18,000 a year
Automatic · No separate application
- 3.00 to 3.39 GPA
To keep it: a 2.75 college GPA; it renews for up to 8 semesters or until you finish your first degree.
DetailsAlumni Scholarship
$16,000 a year
Automatic · No separate application
- page prints '>= 2.99' for Alumni; read as up to 2.99
To keep it: a 2.75 college GPA; it renews for up to 8 semesters or until you finish your first degree.
DetailsFull Tuition Scholarships
Full tuition
Competitive · Application required
- invitation-only essay competition
Deadline: December 15. To keep it: a 2.75 college GPA; it renews for up to 8 semesters or until you finish your first degree.
DetailsPhysics Full Tuition Scholarship
Full tuition
Competitive · Application required
- Physics or Engineering Physics major; interview
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, and stay a physics major.
Details
Ohio programs for residents
Governor's Merit Scholarship
$5,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- Homeschool / dropout prevention & recovery / nonchartered nonpublic applicants (top 5% of similar applicants by ACT/SAT); Apply via ODHE portal in senior year; homeschoolers upload superintendent's response to home-education notification; Selective Service if applicable; on-time graduation; junior on track at determination
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
31 of 31
Earn credit with a score of 3
22 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $3,960Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 0 | ART 1100- Design 2D |
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART 1100-Design 2D |
| 2-D Art and Design | 5 | 3 | ART 1100-Design 2D |
| Biology | 3 | 0 | BIO 1000 |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BIO 1010 and BIO 1020 |
| Biology | 5 | 8 | BIO 1010 and BIO 1020 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | MATH 1700 |
| Calculus AB | 5 | 4 | MATH 1700 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH 1700 and MATH 1800 |
| Calculus BC | 5 | 8 | MATH 1700 and MATH 1800 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 0 | CHEM 1100 and 1110 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CHEM 1400 and 1410 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | CHEM 1400, 1410, 1500 and 1510 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 0 | LANG 1100 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | LANG 1100 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 3 | LANG 1100 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 0 | POLS 1450 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 1450 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 5 | 3 | POLS 1450 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 0 | COMP 1600 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | COMP 1600 |
| Computer Science A | 5 | 4 | COMP 1600 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 0 | COMP 1500 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | COMP 1500 |
| Computer Science Principles | 5 | 3 | COMP 1500 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 0 | ENGL 1192 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENGL 1192 |
| English Language and Composition | 5 | 3 | ENGL 1192 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 0 | ESCI 1001 |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 | ESCI 1001 |
| Environmental Science | 5 | 4 | ESCI 1001 |
| European History | 3 | 0 | HIST 1350 |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HIST 1350 |
| European History | 5 | 3 | HIST 1350 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 0 | FREN 1100 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | FREN 1100 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 3 | FREN 1100 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 0 | GERM 1100 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | GERM 1100 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 3 | GERM 1100 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 0 | GEOG 1000 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | GEOG 1000 |
| Human Geography | 5 | 3 | GEOG 1000 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 0 | ITAL 1100 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | ITAL 1100 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 3 | ITAL 1100 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 0 | JAPN 1100 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | JAPN 1100 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 3 | JAPN 1100 |
| Latin | 3 | 0 | LANG 1100 |
| Latin | 4 | 3 | LANG 1100 |
| Latin | 5 | 3 | LANG 1100 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 0 | ECON 2200 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 2200 |
| Macroeconomics | 5 | 3 | ECON 2200 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 0 | ECON 2100 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 2100 |
| Microeconomics | 5 | 3 | ECON 2100 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 1100 |
| Physics 1 | 5 | 8 | PHYS 1100 and PHYS 1200 |
| Physics 2 | 5 | PHYS 1100, PHYS 1200 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 5 | PHYS 1600 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 5 | 5 | PHYS 1600 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 5 | PHYS 1500 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 5 | 5 | PHYS 1500 |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | PSYC 1050 |
| Psychology | 5 | 3 | PSYC 1050 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 0 | SPAN 1000 and SPAN 1100 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPAN 1000 and SPAN 1100 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | SPAN 1000 and SPAN 1100 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 0 | SPAN 2000 and SPAN 2100 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPAN 2000 and SPAN 2100 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 6 | SPAN 2000 and SPAN 2100 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | MATH 1240 |
| Statistics | 5 | 3 | MATH 1240 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 0 | POLS 1000 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 1000 |
| United States Government and Politics | 5 | 3 | POLS 1000 |
| United States History | 3 | 0 | HIST 1100 |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | HIST 1100 |
| United States History | 5 | 3 | HIST 1100 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | INST 2803 |
| World History: Modern | 5 | 3 | INST 2803 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
61%
Come back for a second year
80%
Typical earnings
$59,196
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Otterbein University$74,786
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 12 majors here have earnings data.
Common questions about Otterbein University
Is Otterbein University test optional for fall 2027?
Yes. Otterbein University is test optional for students starting in fall 2027: you choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score.
What SAT score do you need to get into Otterbein University?
The middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores had ACT scores of 22 to 28. A quarter scored above that range and a quarter below it.
What ACT score do you need to get into Otterbein University?
The middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores had ACT scores of 22 to 28. A quarter scored above that range and a quarter below it.
What is the acceptance rate at Otterbein University?
The acceptance rate at Otterbein University is 85%.
How much does Otterbein University cost?
A year at Otterbein University in 2027-28 is expected to cost about $58,790 before financial aid. After grants and scholarships, freshmen who got federal aid paid $20,189 a year on average.
Does Otterbein University offer merit scholarships?
Yes. Otterbein University offers 8 merit scholarships, including the President's Scholarship, the Provost's Scholarship and the Trustees' Scholarship. Some are awarded automatically from your GPA and test scores.
Does Otterbein University give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Otterbein University gives credit for all 31 AP exams it lists. 22 exams earn credit with a score of 3; the rest need a 4 or 5.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Otterbein University.