Admissions
Undergraduate
Your high school journey is coming to an end, but your future begins right now. Become a Polar Bear and join a strong community known for tradition and academics. Get ready to learn, lead and roar.
Your Story in Numbers
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3,116 Awesome students on campus
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19 Average number of classmates in a typical ONU class
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514 Number of endowed scholarships available
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200 Nearly 200 student organizations to explore
Start your adventure. We’re here when you’re ready.
We operate on a rolling-admissions basis, meaning you can apply any time during the year (except for pharmacy, which has a priority application date of Dec. 1). But if you submit your application early (by Dec. 1), you’ll be considered for more scholarships.
I chose ONU for the small class sizes and the ability to have strong relationships with my professors.Karam Abuhelal, double major in psychology and sociology
Polar Bear Journey
Hitting the books is job one, followed by adventures and experiences that will take you places you’ve never expected.
Kaden Miller: Gamer Extraordinaire
He’s developing professional skills through his involvement with eSports
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Cameron Shively: Developing Essential Skills
His dream of a college degree and a career in construction management is becoming a reality.
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Learn about Financial Aid and Scholarships to help you achieve your dreams
Earning your degree is one of the biggest and most rewarding investments you’ll make during your lifetime – and we have seen the highest returns in the entire state. Learn about the financial aid and scholarships we offer.
Make your deposit and make it official
Reserve your spot in the entering class by submitting your deposit. When you submit your deposit, you will be given access to set up your ONU email, register for Summer Orientation, and select your housing.
Klondike Culture
There’s more to know about being a Polar Bear. Check out these links as you plan for your first year of college.
Aug.
24
Fall Semester Begins: Full-Term
Fall Semester begins including full-term, Law, and Master's 1st part-of-term.
Read More- Sep.01
Last Day to Add a Class {full-term}
Last day to add a course section for full-term…
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Rolling admissions means ONU evaluates applications as they are received rather than waiting for a single, stressful deadline date. You can apply at any point during the year! Once the Office of Admissions receives all official materials (like your transcripts), we will mail an official decision letter to your family within two to four weeks.
- Exception: If your student is applying to our competitive Raabe College of Pharmacy, keep in mind they have a priority application deadline of December 1 and require an interview.
- Actionable Step: Create an application account on our admissions portal today; you’ll instantly receive an email with a temporary PIN to activate it and track your status.
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While you can apply year-round, timing plays a big role in financial aid. To position your student for maximum merit scholarship consideration, we highly recommend submitting your application by December 1 of their senior year. This opens the door to our top award tiers—like our Presidential or Trustees scholarships—and gives your family a clearer financial picture much earlier in the college search process.
- Actionable Step: Aim to have your general application and transcripts submitted before Thanksgiving to comfortably beat the December 1 priority window.
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We keep our application process straightforward and barrier-free. To apply as a first-year undergraduate, you need to submit:
- A completed online application (choose between our native ONU Application, the Common App, or the Coalition App).
- An official high school transcript sent directly from your school counselor.
- Please note: We cannot accept self-submitted copies, emails, or student-carried printouts. Essays and recommendation letters are completely optional for general undergraduates and are only required for Pharmacy applicants.
- Actionable Step: Have your high school counselor send your official transcript electronically via Parchment or email it directly to transcripts@onu.edu.
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ONU is proudly test-optional for all undergraduate programs. If your student chooses not to submit ACT or SAT scores, it will not hurt their chances of admission or lower their scholarship opportunities. Instead, we conduct a holistic review focusing on high school GPA, the academic rigor of their classes, dual-enrollment or College Credit Plus (CCP) grades, and leadership experience. If your student feels their test scores showcase their strengths, they are absolutely welcome to submit them to add value.
- Actionable Step: Use our online Net Price Calculator to see how your student's GPA alone can qualify them for generous merit awards.
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At ONU, we believe in high-impact, personal learning, which is why we maintain an average class size of just 19 students. Your student won't sit in massive, impersonal lecture halls taught by graduate assistants. Instead, they will work directly alongside expert faculty mentors who know them by name. This intimate, family-like campus atmosphere ensures they get the hands-on lab access, research opportunities, and individual guidance necessary to thrive.
- Actionable Step: Contact our Campus Visit Coordinator at 419-772-2260 to set up a weekday visit and experience our close-knit classrooms for yourself.
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First, congratulations! Becoming a Polar Bear is a major achievement. To officially accept your offer of admission and secure your place in the incoming class, you will need to submit your enrollment deposit. Making this deposit official is the key that unlocks your student's next big milestones: setting up their official university email network, registering for Summer Orientation, and unlocking the freshman housing and meal plan selection portal.
- Actionable Step: Log into your accepted student dashboard and click "Make Your Deposit Now" to officially reserve your spot in the class.
Office of Admissions
Weber Hall525 South Main Street
Ada, Ohio 45810
419-772-2260
888-408-4668
admissions-ug@onu.edu