Ohio Northern University has been named a College of Distinction for the 2025-2026 academic year, marking its commitment to providing an engaged, experiential learning experience for undergraduate students.
Colleges of Distinction is a resource guide and consortium that honors colleges and universities throughout the United States for educational excellence.
This recognition is based on Colleges of Distinction’s unique evaluating criteria known as the “Four Distinctions”: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes. Through extensive research and interviews, Colleges of Distinction identifies institutions that make a meaningful impact on students’ lives, not just ones that fight their way to the top of rankings lists.
"We're honored when independent organizations validate the caliber of education we provide at ONU," said ONU President Melissa J. Baumann, Ph.D. "This College of Distinction award reflects the qualities that define us. The unwavering commitment of our faculty and staff ensures that students receive tremendous value and return on their educational investment."
Unlike rankings that focus on prestige-driven metrics, Colleges of Distinction highlights schools that champion educational impact. That includes everything from first-year seminars and collaborative projects to undergraduate research, global learning, and internships. Ohio Northern’s inclusion is a result of its commitment to these high-impact practices and the personalized support it offers students throughout their college journey.
Additionally, Colleges of Distinction recognized the following ONU programs:
- The Dicke College of Business Administration was named a 2025-26 Business College of Distinction for undergraduate business programs that “balance classroom theory with real-world application, preparing graduates to lead with confidence, integrity, and agility.”
- ONU’s teacher education program, in the Getty College of Arts & Sciences, received a 2025-2026 Education College of Distinction award, recognizing its “proven ability to graduate confident, compassionate, and classroom-ready teachers.”
- The T.J. Smull College of Engineering received a 2025-26 badge of distinction for excellence in engineering, reflecting “its dedication to preparing future engineers through a robust combination of theoretical foundations, hands-on experiences, and multidisciplinary collaboration.”
- ONU’s nursing program, in the Getty College of Arts & Sciences, was named a 2025-26 Nursing College of Distinction for “its commitment to preparing compassionate, highly skilled nurses through innovative undergraduate education.”
- ONU also receive the International College of Distinction accolade for “its unwavering commitment to proving exceptional support services for its international students.”
About Colleges of Distinction
Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been committed to recognizing schools across the United States for their exceptional contributions to higher education. Member institutions within the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through their unwavering focus on providing an outstanding undergraduate experience. Their website offers dynamic college profiles, customized tools, and valuable resources for students, parents, and high school counselors. For more information and to discover how to become a College of Distinction, visit CollegesofDistinction.com.