Recognition of Excellence

Group of Ohio Northern University students gathered together on campus.

ONU Rankings 2025

See where ONU ranked in multiple categories, nationally and regionally, for 2025.

Key components at ONU:

4-Year graduation guarantee available across most undergraduate programs
Offer hands-on high-impact learning, a core component of every academic major
High job placement and graduate, professional school admissions rates
Affordable Excellence $57M awarded each year in the form of scholarships and grants

College Rankings

Whether you’re already set on your program or completely unsure, we all get to where we’re going via Ohio Northern. With five colleges of distinction, you have many nationally ranked programs to choose from.

Law student presenting his case during a mock trial

Arts & Sciences students gave more than 80 presentations and posters at professional conferences and co-authored five scholarly articles.

13 Arts & Sciences students in mathematics and science have been honored by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education program over the last 10 years.

Ohio Northern was recognized by The Princeton Review as a “Great School for Nursing Majors.”

Academic programs in athletic training, chemistry and biochemistry, education, exercise physiology, medical laboratory science, music, nursing, and technology are nationally accredited. The exercise physiology program is one of two traditional undergraduate schools in the Midwest and one of only 19 undergraduate colleges in the country with this distinctive accreditation.

93 percent placement rate for graduates into jobs or graduate school within six months of graduation (2025).
AACSB International Accreditation – Earned excellence; among the best business colleges in the world, fewer than five percent of 16,000 business schools worldwide have earned this symbol of excellence in education.

Ranked No. 45 in the nation for undergraduate business programs by Bloomberg Businessweek. “A” rating for teacher quality

96 percent placement rate for graduates into jobs or graduate school within six months of graduation (2025).
95 percent of 2025 engineering graduates found a job within six months, with 99% reporting.

Ranked No. 13 in the nation for undergraduate engineering programs (without a Ph.D. program) by U.S. News & World Report (2027).

ONU College of Engineering faculty have consistently been recognized with a variety of awards, including 5 KEEN Rising Star Awards; Dr. Lauren Logan, Dr. Josh Gargac, Dr. Stephany Coffman-Wolph, Dr. Heath LeBlanc, and Dr. Blake Hylton. A KEEN Rising Star is a junior faculty member at a KEEN institution who has gone above and beyond to equip undergraduate engineers with an entrepreneurial mindset. (add names and a sentence about the award). KEEN is a network of 70 institutions that is focused on cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset among engineering students. ONU was one of the founding members of KEEN, and Dean Yoder serves on the KEEN Leadership Council

Student design teams successfully compete on a national basis.

The civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering programs and engineering education are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, and the computer science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

ONU’s degree program in engineering education is the first of its kind in Ohio and one of the first in the nation. This four-year engineering degree prepares graduates to become licensed secondary math teachers but with a more specialized perspective than teachers who have a traditional education diploma.
Founded in 1884, ONU is the one of the oldest pharmacy programs in the nation and one of only seven direct-entry programs in the country.

Offers students a 0-6 direct admit program experience that culminates in the doctor of pharmacy degree.

Membership in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and Council of Ohio Colleges of Pharmacy.

98 percent of graduates reported full time employment into jobs or residency programs within six months of graduation (2025). with 98% reporting

NAPLEX pass rates for graduates consistently above the national average.

Sixth-year pharmacy students match in residence programs at a rate higher than the national average.

Student organizations recognized nationally.
Founded in 1885, ONU Law is the second oldest law school in Ohio.

Recognized for innovation in its curriculum by The National Jurist.

Ninth in the nation for placement in government and public interest legal jobs – The National Law Journal

12 high-impact guaranteed clinical placement programs and nine areas of specialization.

Two unique concurrent programs focused in international law and tax law.

Frequently Asked Questions

ONU consistently ranks among the top universities in the country for offering an exceptional, high-impact educational experience. In the Wall Street Journal’s rankings, ONU is proudly recognized as the #1 Ohio’s Best Value University and the #1 Ohio Best Salaries for Grads. Additionally, The Princeton Review names ONU in its annual college guide of top national schools. These honors underscore our commitment to balancing elite academic quality with real affordability.
- Actionable Tip: Read through our full breakdown of regional and national accolades on our Recognition of Excellence page to see how we stack up.
One of our greatest points of pride is how effectively an ONU degree launches students into lucrative, successful careers. The Wall Street Journal ranked ONU #1 in Ohio for Boosting Graduates' Salaries and #1 in Ohio in the Best Value category. Across the entire university, we maintain an outstanding overall graduate placement rate, with our individual colleges boasting career or residency placement rates between 93% and 98% within six months of graduation.
- Actionable Tip: Try our quick online Scholarship and Cost Calculator to get a transparent, customized estimate of your merit scholarship and financial aid options.
Our professional programs hold elite global distinctions. The Dicke College of Business Administration holds AACSB International accreditation, a gold standard earned by fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide. Our undergraduate engineering program is ranked #1 in Ohio and among the top 15 in the nation by U.S. News. Meanwhile, the Raabe College of Pharmacy, founded in 1884, is one of only seven 0-6 direct-entry doctor of pharmacy programs in the entire United States.
- Actionable Tip: Filter your academic search by college to explore our unique pathways, like the direct-admit pharmacy program or business tracks with an "A" rating for teaching quality.
Absolutely. The Getty College of Arts & Sciences is highly regarded for hands-on research and creative output. Over the last decade, 13 of our mathematics and science students have been honored by the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship program. Furthermore, The Princeton Review recognizes ONU as a "Great School for Nursing Majors," and our specialized programs—including athletic training, exercise physiology, and medical laboratory science—all hold elite, independent national accreditations.
- Actionable Tip: Contact the Office of Admissions to be connected with a department chair or current student in your major to discuss undergraduate research and presentation opportunities.
Yes. For those interested in the legal field, the Pettit College of Law (the second oldest law school in Ohio) is highly praised for curriculum innovation. The National Law Journal ranks ONU Law 9th in the nation for placement in government and public interest legal jobs. The law school features 12 high-impact, guaranteed clinical placement programs alongside specialized concurrent programs in tax law and international law.
- Actionable Tip: Explore our legal specialization tracks and clinical opportunities early if you plan to follow an accelerated or pre-law pathway.
We believe that exceptional education must remain within reach for bright young students and their families. To make this possible, we offer an individualized approach to financial aid that combines substantial merit scholarships, grants, and other targeted assistance. This approach is a core reason why Washington Monthly ranks ONU #1 in Ohio on its “Best Bang for the Buck” list for helping families achieve marketable degrees affordably.
- Actionable Tip: Connect directly with our financial aid counselors to build a personalized plan that maximizes your grants and scholarship eligibility.

Students walking together on a green campus lawn in front of Ohio Northern University campus buildings.

Investing for a lifetime

A great education is an investment. Ohio Northern invests in the success of its students by offering $57 million in scholarships and financial aid as well as additional resources in the form of loans and work opportunities. We know that, to make dreams happen, it takes some investment on the part of families, too.

Our professional financial aid staff works with each and every family to make a Northern education possible. We offer an individualized approach to families of the most motivated, talented students: a combination of merit scholarship, grants and other aid.

Recognition of Excellence

University Rankings

ONU Rankings 2025

Key components at ONU:

College Rankings

Frequently Asked Questions

Investing for a lifetime

Information for:

Recognition of Excellence

University Rankings

U.S. News & World Report

The Princeton Review

Wall Street Journal

Forbes

ONU Rankings 2025

Key components at ONU:

College Rankings

The Getty College of Arts & Sciences

The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration

The T.J. Smull College of Engineering

The Raabe College of Pharmacy

The Pettit College of Law

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ohio Northern University rank nationally for overall value and quality?

What kind of return on investment (ROI) can our family expect from an ONU degree?

What makes ONU’s engineering, business, and pharmacy programs stand out from other schools?

Are ONU’s arts, sciences, and pre-professional programs nationally recognized?

Does ONU offer competitive clinical and public interest legal opportunities for students?

How accessible is financial aid for motivated incoming students?

Investing for a lifetime

Information for: