Public university in Portsmouth, Ohio, part of the University System of Ohio since 1986.
Shawnee State is an open admissions institution offering more than 70 associate, bachelor, and master's degree programs. Most popular majors include health and medical administrative services, biology, nursing, animation and interactive technology, and social sciences. The university established its first master's degree program in 2000 and now offers several graduate-level degrees. An Honors Program is available for exceptional students, and the Clark Memorial Library is a charter member of OhioLINK, providing access to 46 million books and items.
The 62-acre downtown Portsmouth campus features 28 buildings including the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts, Clark Planetarium (opened 1998), Morris University Center, and James A. Rhodes Athletic Center. On-campus housing accommodates 934 students; all first-year students must live on campus unless married, veterans, over 23, or living with parents. The student body is 54% female, 90% full-time, with 26% living on campus. Four Greek organizations operate on campus: Theta Phi Alpha and Delta Phi Epsilon (sororities), Tau Kappa Epsilon and Phi Mu Delta (fraternities).
Shawnee State practices open admissions. The university offers placement testing and College Credit Plus programs. Transfer students are welcome, and the institution provides a Finish Line Program for re-enrollment. International students represent 1% of the student population. In 2018, 94% of all SSU students received some form of financial aid, with more than $25 million awarded annually.
The Shawnee State Bears compete in NAIA, primarily in the River States Conference since 2023–24. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, swimming, and track & field; women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Football will be added in 2026–27 when the university joins the NCAA Division II Mountain East Conference.