Ohio Northern University

Ada, OH · Private · Town (fringe) · Northern · ONU

Private institution in Ada, OH · 2,386 undergraduates · 73% acceptance rate · $80,928 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 7%Median earnings, 10 years after entry
Top 10%Median earnings, 6 years after entry
Top 16%Graduation rate (4-year)
Top 18%Full-time retention

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $25,7271,534th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $37,8001,582nd cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $37,8001,541st cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $52,4841,550th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $27,0001,604th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $80,928132nd highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $62,686197th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 74.2%317th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 87.5%332nd highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 73.4%707th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 1290214th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 25346th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 2,386835th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 13.0:1993rd smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 19.0%1,777th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 103 mi (DTW)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in Ohio#25

Applying

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: Free
Personal essay: Optional / not required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 54 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$73,635	$68,219
Computer EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$68,219	—
Mechanical EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$66,240	$70,680
Civil EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$63,005	$63,005
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions	bachelors	$62,012	$60,623
Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansEngineering Technology	bachelors	$58,673	$63,005
Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$50,439	$53,629
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and AdministrationHealth Professions	bachelors	$44,189	$51,482
Construction ManagementBusiness	bachelors	$43,798	$50,563
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationCommunications	bachelors	$42,682	$39,369
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsBusiness	bachelors	$40,647	$42,682
MarketingBusiness	bachelors	$38,289	$43,798

Campus facts

Religious affiliation: United Methodistsource
Founded in 1871source
Athletic nickname: "Polar Bears"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
School colors: Orange and Black and Whitesource
Mascot: Klondikesource
Motto: "Ex diversitate vires (Latin)"source
Formerly known as "Northwestern Ohio Normal School" (1871–1885)source
Formerly known as "Ohio Normal University" (1885–1903)source
Athletic conference: OACsource
A [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program institutionsource
A Space-grant]] institutionsource
Fight song: ""Friends of ONU""source
Notable alum: Mike DeWinesource

Athletics — 15 sports

NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.