New rankings by the Wall Street Journal recognize the value of an Ohio Northern University education, underscoring how effectively ONU prepares graduates for success. ONU is ranked No. 1 in Ohio for value and salary impact by the WSJ/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S.
According to the Journal, “The WSJ/College Pulse Best Value ranking lists schools in order of how quickly the difference between their graduates’ salaries and those of comparable high-school graduates pays back the average net price of four years of study – what we call ‘Years to pay off net price.’”
Salary impact “measures the extent to which a college boosts its graduates’ salaries beyond what they would be expected to earn regardless of which college they attended.”
ONU is also highly rated in the publication’s overall ranking of the top 584 universities in the country. ONU is No. 122 in the country and second in the Buckeye State.
“This latest ranking is a reflection of the work our faculty and staff do every day to provide a high-impact learning experience and support our students,” said ONU President Melissa J. Baumann, Ph.D. “It affirms what our students, families, and alumni already know: an ONU education is a great value that provides an outstanding return on investment.”
WSJ/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. rates the top universities in the country, emphasizing how much a college improves its students’ chances of graduating on time, and how much it boosts the salaries they earn after graduation.
According to the Journal: “Unlike other school rankings, this list emphasizes one point: How well did the college prepare students for financial success? More than any other factor, it rewards the boost an institution provides to its graduates’ salaries, beyond an estimate of what they could have expected from attending any college.”