Founded in 1871, Ohio Northern University. is a Private college. Located in Ohio, which is a city setting in Ohio, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 2,274 full time undergraduate students, and 834 full time graduate students.
The Ohio Northern University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 11:1. There are 216 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Ohio Northern University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
64%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
0
SAT Range
1030-1235
ACT Range
23-28
Admissions at ONU are considered Selective, with ,22% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 15 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
91% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 69% were in the top quarter, and 40% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Ohio Northern University.
0%
“We”re apathetic”
45%
“We know about current events and vote”
50%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
5%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
18%
“Sometimes, but not often”
41%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
41%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
5%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
95%
“I feel extremely safe”
18%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
45%
“We bought the gear”
36%
“We live for the big game”
5%
“It”s not really our thing”
14%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
64%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
18%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
32%
“They keep regular office hours”
68%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
27%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
73%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
50%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
45%
“We only party on weekends”
5%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
9%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
73%
“There might be people who do”
18%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
0%
“We”re apathetic”
45%
“We know about current events and vote”
50%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
5%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
18%
“Sometimes, but not often”
41%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
41%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
5%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
95%
“I feel extremely safe”
18%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
45%
“We bought the gear”
36%
“We live for the big game”
5%
“It”s not really our thing”
14%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
64%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
18%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
32%
“They keep regular office hours”
68%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
27%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
73%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
59 Students rated on-campus housing 3.8 stars. 10 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
39 Students rated off-campus housing 3.4 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
60 Students rated campus food 2.7 stars. 7 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
59 Students rated campus facilities 4.2 stars. 42 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
59 Students rated class size 4.6 stars. 68 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
59 Students rated school activities 4.1 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
60 Students rated local services 3.3 stars. 20 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
59 Students rated academics 4.1 stars. 39 % gave the school a 5.0.
Ohio Northern University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Ohio Northern University?
25 Students rated Ohio Northern University
Olivia
11/05/2024
ONU is a very small school but everyone you meet will constantly be a friendly face on campus. You know everyone on campus and there is always something to do with them. We have several clubs, some of which are smaller than others but they all are amazing and there is something for everyone.
Isabellah
05/24/2024
I absolutely love Ohio Northern. It is definitely the place for me, but I can see how some people may turn a shoulder to the college. I think that if you are not at ONU to get a degree in Pharmacy or Engineering, you should probably go somewhere else. Yes, the school has wonderful educators/professors, but there are better schools to attend to get a degree in Childhood Education with a much more attractive price tag. I haven't met a single professor who doesn't love there job, and it shows in the "job and graduate school placement" rating that is taken by all of the graduated students.
Julian
07/28/2020
I love Ohio Northern University. For me it isn't about sports, activities, or academics, even though they are each unique and prominent throughout the campus. it is about the feeling the campus gives me. That feeling is home. This university has given me the opportunity to branch out of my comfort zone and find my complete self. I have met the greatest people and professors that have changed my life. This campus is so personal and I appreciate that I am not lost in the crowd.
Lori Ann
05/26/2020
The education program is a bit of a mess, and the food is not very good and the dorms should be cleaned a lot more regularly. However, professors are very accessible and there are programs (like the writing center) that are very beneficial to students such as myself.
Mulan
05/08/2020
ONU is a great campus that's located in the small village of Ada, Ohio. It's definitely more of a small town feel, but the class sizes are really nice! Some of the buildings are outdated but they just added a new engineering building which has been cool to see.
Anika
11/27/2019
It’s a great school. They make sure their students understand and are always there to help if you’re struggling. Also, It’s such a warm and inviting community. There is so many activities and events around the campus to bring everyone together. Everybody is friends here and it’s a great school.
Olivia
11/09/2019
I've enjoyed my past few months at Northern. I do wish there was a bit more to do in Ada. The only places surrounding the college is small family owned pizza shops. I wish that the food in the dining hall was better, too. I find myself eating cereal and bagel quite frequently. I do feel very safe on campus and all of the professors here are very intelligent and helpful.
Aliya
09/25/2019
Ohio Northern University is nestled in a village, in a cornfield, in another cornfield, in the middle of Ohio. The University is very dedicated to its academics and student success in all majors with all professors holding regular office hours. The greeks life exists, but there are also many other campus involvement groups that are popular. It's beautiful in the fall but bring a heavy-duty coat in the winter. Everyone's welcoming and the campus feels very safe.
Karielle
07/22/2019
This tiny school in the middle of nowhere Ohio has a lot more to offer than a large state school focused on pumping out graduates. Ohio Northern University's uniquely small size allows students to form lifelong relationships with both teachers and their peers. The bond that the "polar bears" create over the course of 4-6 years at Northern is unlike any other and provides opportunities to network and find jobs for their upcoming future. As an involved student in both my classes and extracurricular activities, I have been able to make an impact on my community and truly find a home away from home at this university. I feel great comfort in how safe the school and surrounding areas are, and know that I always have campus security and peers to make sure that I will get where I need to in a safe manner. Overall, Ohio Northern University provides exceptional opportunities for its students and beyond prepares them for the world to come post graduation. If you are considering this school for your higher education, I could not recommend it more!
Erica
07/09/2019
Ohio Northern University is a great college for pushing yourself towards your academic goals and being apart of a community. The faculty are amazing and are always available for their students. There are always activities going on, from sports games to plays and symphonies. Really a great campus to get involved in new and exciting things. Highly recommend.
Luke
06/30/2019
Very positive. The class sizes are fantastic and the professors are always willing to help and flexible when you miss class for excused events. The food is mediocre, but there are some items better than others. The athletics are top-notch, most teams compete for a conference championship every season and the fan support is another positive.
Victoria
03/27/2019
I love that Ohio Northern is about the arts and really is an advocate for encouraging students to be creative! Their music program is amazing along with many other aspects! This is the college of my dreams! I enjoy the student atmosphere as well, and how there are so many clubs and different ways to get involved!
Isabelle
02/16/2019
I absolutely love the class sizes and the friendly professors we have here. The resources we have available are also super helpful. Classes can get tough but we have great facilities to study in and you can always find someone else to study with. Although there are a few restaurants here in Ada, the only downfall is you have to drive about 30 minutes for almost anything. Overall, ONU is a great school academically and I have made some really great memories already.
Shelby
01/22/2019
Ohio Northern University is a largely academic campus with amazing programs for pharmacy and law. The campus has little nightlife, but something good about this is the focus on studies at this college is very large and is successful. The food on campus is not very great and there aren't many different options of places to eat, but the dorms are nice and get better as the student advances through their years.
devon
12/08/2018
Overall i believe Ohio Northern University is a good campus. I feel safe when walking outside after class after dark. The biology program at onu is a great. The teachers involved in the program are easy to talk to about your study's as well as life. They teachers are overall great at explaining concepts.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Ohio Northern University is 64%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
There are many things I have learned and taken from my experiences at ONU. The most important are communicating skills and independence. I have always kept to myself or my family. Here at ONU I am majoring in Athletic Training, and it has forced me to be more socialable. Everyday I am working one on one with Athletic Trainers and athletes. I have learned how to communicate with them on a professional level and how to feel comfortable while doing it. I am also pushed everyday to work out problems on my own. Although my professors are there to guide me, they also encourage me to be independant and not always lean on them for answers. After graduating from ONU, I plan on attending grad school for Physical Therapy. As a PT I will be working with people everyday. To be successful, I will need to have strong communication skills with my patients and their doctors. I will also need to be able to design rehabilitation programs on my own and not depend on others to do it for me. The skills I have obtained thus far from ONU will most certainly contribute to a successful future.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
I think the worst thing about my school is the slow reaction time of some staff when an issue needs to be addressed. However, this if usually on the nonacademic side of the experience.
The kind of person who should attend this school is one who is focused. The students at this school know what they want to do, and they know how to get there. While they are concerned with their education, they are also concerned with helping others. The students are caring, and give much of their time in community service and assistance on campus. Most of the students come from Christian backgrounds, and have high moral standards.
The students who attend Ohio Northern University are mostly white, middle-to-upper-middle class, and from very small rowns, much like the town the university is in itself. Diversity is less than 10 percent.
My school is known for having a very strong Pharmacy program. Most students studying at the school are Pharmacy majors, or somehow Pharmacy related majors.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
The most unique thing is the quality. Out of the colleges thatI had looked at, Ohio Northern had the friendliest people. Even now that I am enrolled as a full-time student here, the people are still incredibly friendly and nice. Walking around campus you can always expect at least five people to say hello to you, and most of the time, those people are complete strangers. The people here truely care about you and treat you as another friendly individual.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
Yes, but not really and they are changing! Ada, OH is in the middle of cornfields, but if a student says their isn't anything to do, they haven't tried at all to find something. There are always activities - ranging from card games to theatre performances to intramurals to world-famous speakers.
While Northern's student body is mostly from Ohio, the out of state and international student population continues to grow.
No TAs! 95{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the professors actually care if you pass and will help you if you ask for it.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
99% of students attending Ohio Northern University receive some sort of financial aid.
25% were awarded federal grants.95%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
