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Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Olin College of Engineering

Needham, Massachusetts 02492-1200

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

STEM-heavyTight-knitSuburban

Highly selective — top graduate earnings

Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is a private suburban institution in Needham, Massachusetts. Admission is competitive, with an average SAT of 1540.

A small campus of 373 undergraduates with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

92% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $129,455 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $20,575.

Campus Visits

65 upcoming visits · Next: Fri, Jun 5 · Campus Visit

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Admission Office

1000 Olin Way, Needham, MA 02492

(781) 292-2222[email protected]
22%Acceptance
1540SAT Avg
373Students
9:1Student:Faculty
92%Grad Rate
$129,455Earnings 10yr
$20,575Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate21.7%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1540

Reading & WritingMid: 755
720770
MathMid: 780
760790

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 35
3435

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions

Test-OptionalTracks InterestHolistic ReviewOn-Campus Interviews

Application Platforms

Common App

Early Decision (Binding)

November 1

Decision by mid-December

Early Decision II (Binding)

January 1

Decision by early February

Regular Decision

January 1

Decision by mid-March

Reply by May 1

SAT/ACT optional permanently.

Olin-specific essays and creative responses required.

Financial Aid

Need-Blind Meets 100% NeedNeed-Based Only
Students receiving aid
65%

Need-blind for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$64,458
Room & Board$19,820
Books & Supplies$216
Total Cost of Attendance$81,486
Average Net Price$20,575
Median Debt at Graduation$19,500
Monthly Payment (10yr)$207

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$7,058
$30–48K$4,690
$48–75K$13,333
$75–110K$21,098
$110K+$46,317

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

78.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$14,287

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

3

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

0

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

1

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Academics

Core/Distribution RequirementsSemester
Majors
3
Avg class size
16
Student-faculty ratio
8:1
Study abroad
25%
View all 3 majors
Electrical and Computer EngineeringMechanical EngineeringEngineering (self-designed concentration)

Babson-Olin-Wellesley Consortium

Franklin W. Olin College of EngineeringBabson CollegeWellesley College
Cross-registration
Yes

Students can take courses, join clubs, use libraries and facilities, and attend events at all three institutions. Free shuttle service connects the campuses.

Programs (3)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

99%

Very Positive

Campus Life

Campus size
75 acres
Organizations
75+
No Greek Life

Housing & Residential Life

4-Year Housing Guarantee
On campus
100%

Housing Styles

Residence halls with suites

Dining

Olin Dining HallDietary Options

Student Body

Undergrads
373
Gender Split
48% / 52%
Women / Men
Pell Grant Recipients
13%

Race & Ethnicity

White 42%
Black 3%
Hispanic 11%
Asian 22%
Two+ 10%
Int'l 8%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate92.2%
Freshman Retention98.7%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$105,483
10 Years$129,455

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

After Graduation

Employed within 6 months
98%

Top Employers

GoogleAppleMicrosoftAmazonSpaceXTeslaiRobotFormlabsBoston Dynamics

Top Graduate Schools

MITStanford UniversityUC BerkeleyCarnegie Mellon UniversityHarvard UniversityUniversity of Michigan

Top Industries

TechnologyRoboticsAerospaceConsultingProduct DesignEntrepreneurship

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

136Very High

Estimated from MA state average + suburban adjustment

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 60"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675K
11 mi(19 min)
New Yorkpop. 8.3M
179 mi(310 min)
Philadelphiapop. 1.6M
260 mi(451 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

BOS Boston Logan14 mi
PVD Providence TF Green40 mi
MHT Manchester-Boston45 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA11 mi · ~19 min drive
New York, NY179 mi · ~5h 10m drive
Hartford, CT81 mi · ~2h 20m drive
Providence, RI33 mi · ~57 min drive
Albany, NY129 mi · ~3h 44m drive
Syracuse, NY253 mi · ~7h 19m drive
Rochester, NY327 mi · ~9h 27m drive
Buffalo, NY389 mi · ~11h 14m drive
Philadelphia, PA260 mi · ~7h 31m drive
Pittsburgh, PA470 mi · ~13h 35m drive
Harrisburg, PA324 mi · ~9h 22m drive
Newark, NJ185 mi · ~5h 21m drive
Trenton, NJ231 mi · ~6h 40m drive
Central (cold winters, warm summers)

Getting Around

Walkability

Compact suburban campus in Needham; walkable campus but car or shuttle helpful for off-campus.

Visit Planning

Nearby Attractions

Babson Collegewalkable

Partner institution with cross-registration and shared shuttle.

Wellesley College

Partner institution with cross-registration and shared shuttle.

Needham Town Center

Shopping and dining in downtown Needham.

Boston

Downtown Boston is 12 miles away, accessible by car or public transit.

Transfer Admission

International Students

Need-Blind Meets 100% Need
International students
10%

English Proficiency Requirements

TOEFL iBT100
IELTS Academic7.0
Duolingo English Test120

Franklin W Olin College of Engineering Application Checklist

Decision Notifications