Private research university merging engineering excellence with liberal arts, founded 1826 in Cleveland.
Case Western Reserve comprises eight schools offering nearly 100 undergraduate majors, minors, and concentrations, plus approximately 160 graduate and professional options spanning STEM, medicine, arts, and humanities. The university is classified as an R1 Doctoral University with very high research activity and is a member of the Association of American Universities. Notable academic achievements include establishing the nation's first computer engineering degree program (1971), the first biomedical engineering program (1968), and the first biomedical engineering MD/PhD program (1969).
The university reported $553.7 million in research and development expenditures in 2023, ranking 18th among private institutions and 59th nationally. Research strengths include electrochemistry, biomedical engineering, polymer science and engineering (founded 1963), and computing. The Sears think[box] and Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building support collaborative research across disciplines.
The main campus spans 267 acres in University Circle, approximately 5 miles east of downtown Cleveland, an area rich with educational, medical, and cultural institutions. Housing, dining, and recreational facilities include the Veale Center with gymnasium and natatorium, athletic fields, and residence halls on the Flora Stone Mather Quadrangle. Free CircleLink shuttle service and RTA rapid transit access connect students to the broader Cleveland community, which offers 50,000+ acres of parks and 50+ museums.
Case Western Reserve Spartans compete in NCAA Division III as a founding member of the University Athletic Association, fielding 19 varsity teams plus numerous club sports. The university maintains strong traditions including Greek life, student clubs and organizations, and music and design teams. The mascot is Spartie.
Western Reserve College was founded in 1826 by the Presbyterian Church in Hudson, Ohio, and moved to Cleveland in 1882. Case School of Applied Science was founded in 1880 and relocated to University Circle in 1885. The two institutions formally federated in 1967 to create Case Western Reserve University. Current president Eric W. Kaler took office July 1, 2021, following interim leadership by Scott Cowen.