ONU has a rich history of academic excellence, and we’re always evolving to meet society’s ever-changing needs. We’ve most recently been recognized for teaching quality, high graduation rates, commitment to volunteer service and providing a high return on investment for our graduates.
The University is made up of five colleges, each preparing you to take on whatever challenges you see in the world.
Ohio Northern’s ambitious, pioneering attitude has been alive since the very beginning. The school started with a single person and a single idea. With the help of the community, Henry Solomon Lehr founded the Northwestern Ohio Normal School in 1871. When the college’s curriculum grew to include pharmacy, engineering, law and business programs, its name was changed to Ohio Normal University and, eventually, in 1903, Ohio Northern University.
In 1899, the University affiliated with the United Methodist Church and more intentionally embraced church-related values. From these beginnings, Ohio Northern University has developed a focus on teaching, learning, scholarship, professional practice and a campus environment that’s centered on students, service and values.
With top-ranked programs and opportunities outside the classroom, any path you choose at Ohio Northern will be grounded in concrete applications for the future. But the best part is that you never really have to choose. Our campus is an open frontier where engineers can be artists and artists can be entrepreneurs. At ONU, we embrace the overlap in every field.
Our values at ONU have been influenced by a unique history and an enduring affiliation with the United Methodist Church. We’re inspired by the higher values of truth, beauty and goodness. Above all, our mission is to prepare students for success in their careers and service to their communities, the nation and the world. Students at ONU work closely with faculty so they can learn to think critically, creatively and entrepreneurially. The practical experience gained at ONU, along with creative exploration outside of the classroom, prepares students for a lifetime of personal growth.
This fall, several ranking services continue to rank ONU among the best universities for offering an exceptional educational experience. While the criteria differ, the common denominator is the recognition of the value of relevancy of an Ohio Northern degree.
College rankings continue to recognize the high-quality Ohio Northern educational experience. Outside sources confirm Ohio Northern University’s strong reputation:
• Ranked No. 3 among Midwest regional colleges by U.S. News & World Report in Best Colleges 2022, ranked fourth in “Best Value Schools” regional categories
• One of nation’s top schools in The Princeton Review’s annual college guide, The Best 387 Colleges: 2022 Edition.
• Ranked by Washington Monthly as No. 6 on its “Bachelor's Colleges” list.
• One of top 12 small Midwest colleges by The Wall Street Journal.
• Ranked by career-guidance site Zippia as the most likely college or university in the state of Ohio (and third in the nation) to place its graduates into a job.
• The New York Times ranks ONU second out of all 76 colleges in Ohio, 10th nationally out of 578 national selective private colleges, and 84th out of all 2,137 colleges in the U.S. for “median student income at age 34.”
• Ranked by Forbes in its 2021 "America's Top Colleges".
• Among top eight private universities, and in top 16 overall in Ohio, for return on investment, and No. 10 in Ohio for salary potential by PayScale.
• Included in MONEY's “Best Colleges for 2020.”
• Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings 2022 rates ONU as a top university and 31st of 212 institutions in the Midwest, noting the University’s particular strength in student engagement.
Our scenic campus is located within 90 minutes of several major cities: Dayton, Columbus, Toledo and Ft. Wayne.