Otterbein University cares about supporting you from Day 1 through launching your career. It’s also very attuned to affordability.

Just 15 miles from downtown Columbus, Otterbein University is located in a quaint suburb, Westerville, Ohio, known for its parks, restaurants, and shops. Otterbein University is loosely associated with the United Methodist Church but has no religious requirements. The campus is on the Arbor Foundation’s Tree Campus USA list.

Academic programs and majors

I visited Otterbein on a warm, dry afternoon in mid-September (Ohio was experiencing a drought) and joined a small group for a tour led by a zoo and conservation science major. The top majors are nursing, equine pre-vet studies, theater, and zoo and conservation sciences. They offer the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in creative writing, acting, theater design and technology, and musical theater.

Otterbein has pre-professional programs in health studies, athletic training, counseling, dentistry, law, medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, optometry, physician associate, and veterinary medicine. For these pre-professional tracks, Otterbein says, “There is no one pre-law, pre-med, or pre-PT major. Select a major that fits your strengths and passions. . . [and add] prerequisite coursework and hands-on experiences that only Otterbein can offer.”

The business and communication departments include majors in business analytics, equine business management, finance, marketing, and sport management. Education covers elementary and middle school degrees as well as content-specific high school degrees and special education. Students earn teaching licensure through the Education Department.

In the social sciences, Otterbein offers criminology and justice studies and sustainability studies, in addition to psychology and sociology. STEM majors include mechanical and systems engineering, environmental science, and computer science.

Cost and application timeline

One hundred percent of students receive merit- and/or need-based aid, and the cost of attendance (COA) is very reasonable for a private school: $50,000. Check out their cost estimator at www.otterbein.edu/estimator. Merit aid can go up to $22,000 for a GPA of 4.0 or above, renewable for four years. That can bring the cost below in-state tuition at your public flagship.

Otterbein reads applications and releases decisions on a rolling basis, but have all your materials in by December 15 for the priority scholarship deadline, and the FAFSA in by January 31.

Student support from Day 1

You can be comfortably undecided at Otterbein. The university recognizes not declaring a major as a purposeful choice rather than indecision. Each undeclared student gets an academic adviser who has received special training to work with undeclared students. The Student Success & Career Development (SSCD) provides individual guidance, academic advising, career assessments, and programs to help students understand themselves and related career paths.

The First-Year Experience (FYE) program includes First Flight, where first-years meet with their adviser, begin the first-year seminar course, and participate in convocation. FYE supports new students in every aspect of their transition to Otterbein.

The READY program is a career and professional preparation plan that guides your four years. Every student will graduate with at least one immersive experience, and every student will have advisers and mentors to help them design professional goals.

Special programs

If you want a higher level of academic rigor, apply to the Honors Program, which includes an Honors residence hall and exclusive off-campus experiences. Honors requires an independent research or creative project.

The Graduate Early Admission Pathways (GEAP) give you a head start on one of 20 graduate degrees. You can enroll in clinical mental health counseling, the Master of Business Administration degree (MBA), or MBA for engineers. You can take three graduate level courses while paying undergraduate tuition.

Otterbein’s Integrative Studies (INST) is a nationally recognized general education program. It ensures students build broad and deep knowledge to become lifelong learners and problem solvers. Otterbein initiated the approach in 1969, and numerous universities have followed their lead.

Campus life

Otterbein is on the smaller side at just over 2000 students, but it offers 22 NCAA Division III sports, including women’s wrestling. In fact, 35% of the freshman class are student athletes. There are varsity teams for both men and women in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and tennis, among others. With eight fraternities and six sororities, 25% of all Cardinals are involved in Greek life.

There’s no requirement to live on campus, but 80% of first-years do. Dorms for freshmen are standard, with a communal bathroom on the floor. I did notice that the dorm we visited was not air conditioned, though each window held a large box fan and the room we saw wasn’t uncomfortable.

The Cardinal’s Nest is a newly renovated dining hall with buffet style and made-to-order foods. There’s also the Point Café in the STEM center and the Otter Bean for snacks and coffee in the library.

A special focus: equine programs

I discovered Otterbein when I was looking for schools that had equine sciences. Though they don’t offer that specific major, they do offer equine pre-vet studies as a pre-professional pathway and equine veterinary technology. Otterbein has its own barn a short drive from campus, and horse owners can board their horses there. The equestrian team is nationally recognized. The program features top instructors, a herd of school horses, and facilities at the Knowlton Center for Equine Sciences.

The bottom line

Otterbein’s mascot is the cardinal, matching the red, black, and tan colors of the school. They missed out on an appropriate mascot by not picking the otter.

I like Otterbein’s ethos, the way they view undeclared students and the way they weave support throughout the years, beginning with that first year and continuing through your career trajectory. I like that U.S. News & World Report ranked them as a “best value” school and that they consciously strive to make a Cardinal education affordable. “Our wish for you is that you find more than a paycheck and a job. . . . We want you to find a life calling, a purpose, and a way to make a difference.”

Note: Much of the information and all quotes come from the viewbook published by Otterbein University, “Belong, Become You, 2025-2026.”