Ohio's leading public research university focused on STEM, polymers, and engineering with 15,000+ students.
The University of Akron offers approximately 200 undergraduate majors and more than 100 graduate programs, ranging from certificates to doctoral degrees. The university is classified as an R2 Doctoral University with high research activity. Notable strengths include the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering (the first of its kind in the world, founded 1988), housed in a distinctive 12-story glass building. The university also offers unique programs such as the only baccalaureate in corrosion engineering in the nation, and an Early Assurance Pathway to the NEOMED MD program. The School of Law, founded in 1921, offers J.D. and LL.M. degrees, including one of only 22 LL.M. programs in intellectual property in America.
The Goodyear Polymer Center, a 146,000-square-foot facility built in 1991, serves as a hub for polymer research with eight synthesis groups, advanced labs, and state-of-the-art equipment. The university maintains the Archives of the History of American Psychology, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics. The university's historical connection to Akron's tire and rubber industry (Goodyear, Firestone, Goodrich) has shaped its research focus; it offered the world's first rubber chemistry courses in 1909.
The urban campus spans 218 acres (222 acres including recent acquisitions) with 82 buildings near downtown Akron. Student life includes over 300 clubs and organizations, more than 20 fraternities and sororities, and extensive recreational facilities. The university purchased the Quaker Square Crowne Plaza Hotel for residential space. Athletics are central to campus culture, with the Zips competing in NCAA Division I (MAC conference) across 17 varsity teams. Notable facilities include InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field (opened 2009), James A. Rhodes Arena, and FirstEnergy Stadium–Cub Cadet Field.
Admission is classified as 'inclusive' by Carnegie Classification. For the 2023 entering class, the admit rate was 70.91%, with a yield rate of 19.68%. The middle 50% of test scores were SAT 960–1190 and ACT 18–25. Average high school GPA was 3.49. The university accepts both the UA Application and Common App for first-year students. Transfer, international, and graduate pathways are also available.
94% of undergraduates receive some form of financial aid. The university reports a 95% placement rate for spring 2021 graduates. Nurse Anesthesia students achieved a perfect pass rate on the national certification exam in 2022. The university emphasizes career readiness through internship opportunities (e.g., Cleveland Browns internships) and early job placement support.