Methodist-affiliated private university in rural Ohio with strong engineering, pharmacy, and law programs.
Ohio Northern offers 50+ programs across five undergraduate and graduate colleges: Getty College of Arts and Sciences, James F. Dicke College of Business Administration, T.J. Smull College of Engineering, Rudolph H. Raabe College of Pharmacy, and Claude W. Pettit College of Law. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Engineering programs rank highly nationally: undergraduate engineering #14 (non-doctorate), civil engineering #11, and electrical engineering #15. The Pettit College of Law, founded in 1885, has been fully accredited by the American Bar Association since 1948.
The rural campus in Ada features 19 residence halls and 200+ student clubs and organizations, with 82% of students involved in student organizations. ONU competes in NCAA Division III (Ohio Athletic Conference) with 25 varsity sports; the mascot is Klondike the Polar Bear. Notable campus buildings include Hill Memorial (1879, the oldest structure), Presser Hall (music), and the Freed Center for the Performing Arts. The university hosts a Martin Luther King Jr. statue commemorating his 1968 visit. Students benefit from a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and average class size of 21.
ONU admits students through regular decision and transfer pathways. The average financial aid award is $32,500, with 92% of students receiving financial support. The university is committed to affordability, with many students finding ONU comparable in cost to public universities after financial aid. Advanced Placement credit is granted for scores of 4 or 5 on most exams, with a maximum of 30 credits from AP, IB, or CLEP combined.
ONU graduates achieve strong career outcomes: 95% are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. The university ranks #1 in the Midwest (U.S. News 2026), #1 in Ohio for value and salary impact (Wall Street Journal 2026), and #1 in Ohio for job placement (Zippia). ONU is also recognized as #1 for Best Value Schools and #1 for Best College for Veterans in U.S. News rankings. The institution emphasizes high-impact learning practices including internships, research, study abroad, and service-learning.