Oberlin College began awarding honorary degrees in 1852. Some years no honorary degrees were awarded. Oberlin has granted the following types of honorary degrees: Honorary Master of Arts (A.M.hon.), Honorary Master of Music (Mus.M.hon.), Doctor of Divinity (D.D.), Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), Doctor of Music (Mus.D.), Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.), Doctor of Science (Sci.D.), Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D. and H.H.D.), Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.), and Doctor of Sacred Theology (S.T.D.).
Honorary degrees are often awarded to Oberlin College graduates, but many degrees are also given to distinguished individuals within their career paths.