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Ohio Northern University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 74/100

Ohio Northern University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Ada, Ohio

About Ohio Northern University

Ohio Northern University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Ada, Ohio. It enrolls 2,489 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: onu.edu

Acceptance: 74.4%
Graduation: 73.9%
Net Price: $24,478
Median Earnings (10yr): $80,928
Enrollment: 2,489
Student : Faculty: 13:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

74/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 82

Value 69

Affordability 25

Selectivity 60

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 74.4%, Ohio Northern University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

74.4%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1175 – 1400

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

24 – 29

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Ohio Northern University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 3.2 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Ohio Northern University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $24,478 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$24,478

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

21%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

55%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $39,800
Room & Board (on-campus): $14,604
Room & Board (off-campus): $10,593
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,304
Other Expenses (off-campus): $2,304
Total Cost of Attendance: $53,580

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$18,525
$30,001 – $48,000

$19,223
$48,001 – $75,000

$22,336
$75,001 – $110,000

$25,605
Over $110,000

$27,710

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$5,500

10% percentile

$12,000

25% percentile

$27,000

Median percentile

$28,000

75% percentile

$33,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $25,247 ↓ $1,753

No Pell $23,250 ↓ $3,750

Dependent students $24,250 ↓ $2,750

Independent students $25,000 ↓ $2,000

Female students $25,105 ↓ $1,895

Male students $23,250 ↓ $3,750

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

74% of full-time students who enrolled at Ohio Northern University graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

74%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

86%

Returning for their second year

What this means: High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Ohio Northern University earn a median of $80,928 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$80,928

Earning > $25K

90%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$70,400

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$74,600

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$62,100

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$65,700

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$77,600

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 6.9 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 96% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Ohio Northern University is home to 2,489 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled

2,489

Part-Time

First-Generation

24%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 80.4% 2,002

Other 5.2% 130

Hispanic 4.3% 108

Black 2.9% 73

Asian 1.8% 44

International 1.6% 40

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Ohio Northern University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Town: Fringe Ada, Ohio

Housing

Strongly residential 1,930 beds for 2,489 students

Adult Learners

2% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Ohio Northern University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 47 distinct programs across 22 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

6 Programs

Health

Pharmacy $117K ($79K–$140K)
Pharmacy $117K ($79K–$140K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)

5 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)
Electrical Engineering $101K ($85K–$122K)

6 Programs

Business

Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)
Finance $83K ($61K–$112K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

1 Program

Legal Studies

Law $143K ($74K–$297K)

2 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)

1 Program

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)

4 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Ohio Northern University is 13:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

13:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$298M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$81,777

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

205 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	72	35%	$92,693
Associate Professors	66	32%	$78,726
Assistant Professors	61	30%	$73,686
Instructors	6	3%	$66,592

Pros & Cons of Ohio Northern University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Ohio Northern University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

Above-average net price
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, Ohio Northern University is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ohio Northern University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Ohio Northern University.

Is Ohio Northern University hard to get into?

Admissions at Ohio Northern University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 74.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Ohio Northern University?

Ohio Northern University has an acceptance rate of 74.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Ohio Northern University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Ohio Northern University scored between 1175 and 1400 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Ohio Northern University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Ohio Northern University scored between 24 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Ohio Northern University cost?

The average net price after aid at Ohio Northern University is $24,478 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Ohio Northern University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $80,928 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $24,478 per year. That's roughly 3.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Ohio Northern University known for?

Ohio Northern University is best known for its programs in Pharmacy, Pharmacy, Mechanical Engineering. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Ohio Northern University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Ohio Northern University are $80,928, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Ohio Northern University accredited?

Yes. Ohio Northern University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Ohio Northern University?

Ohio Northern University enrolls 2,489 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Ohio Northern University?

Ohio Northern University graduates 74% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Ohio Northern University a public or private college?

Ohio Northern University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Ohio Northern University located?

Ohio Northern University is located in Ada, Ohio.

What programs does Ohio Northern University offer?

Ohio Northern University offers 47 distinct programs. The most popular include Pharmacy, Pharmacy, Mechanical Engineering.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Ohio Northern University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Ohio Northern University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.