Otterbein University Acceptance Rate
Westerville, Ohio · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 3,498
- Admitted
- 2,914
- Yield
- 17.8%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Otterbein University's acceptance rate has risen from 75.3% in 2014–15 to 83.3% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 2,584 to 3,498 (+35%) over that period.
Its 83.3% rate makes Otterbein University more selective than about 35% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 54 tracked Ohio schools, it is more selective than about 28%.
In 2023–24, men were admitted at a higher rate (82.2% for women vs 85.2% for men, a 3-point gap). Otterbein University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 17.8% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 2,584 | 1,946 | 75.3% | 563 |
| 2015–16 | 2,917 | 2,197 | 75.3% | 569 |
| 2016–17 | 3,222 | 2,348 | 72.9% | 647 |
| 2017–18 | 3,119 | 2,383 | 76.4% | 607 |
| 2018–19 | 2,919 | 2,365 | 81% | 579 |
| 2019–20 | 2,861 | 2,293 | 80.1% | 623 |
| 2020–21 | 2,849 | 2,167 | 76.1% | 495 |
| 2021–22 | 3,537 | 2,932 | 82.9% | 570 |
| 2022–23 | 3,762 | 3,148 | 83.7% | 550 |
| 2023–24 | 3,498 | 2,914 | 83.3% | 519 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 2,198 | 1,807 | 82.2% |
| Men | 1,300 | 1,107 | 85.2% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 23–28 | 33% |
How Otterbein University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Otterbein University's acceptance rate?
Otterbein University's acceptance rate is 83.3% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (2,914 admitted of 3,498 applicants).
Is Otterbein University test optional?
Otterbein University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Otterbein University?
Otterbein University received 3,498 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 2,914.
Is Otterbein University getting harder to get into?
Otterbein University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 75.3% in 2014–15 to 83.3% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.otterbein.edu/.