Campus & Student Life at Ohio Northern University

Home to about 2,130 undergraduates in 2020, ONU is a small, private university located in Ada, Ohio. This is a great opportunity for those who would thrive in a charming, small-town atmosphere. Should you tire of the campus however, ONU offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by ONU can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our ONU Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

Ohio Northern University is Affiliated With the United Methodist Faith.

Some, but not all, schools with a religious affiliation may require a statement of faith or religious studies component. Contact the school to see what their requirements are. If an affinity with the United Methodist faith interests you, check out our ranking of The Best United Methodist Colleges and Universities.

ONU Has a Disability Services Site

Individuals with disabilities make up 4.0% of the student population at ONU. For more information on policies and accommodations that the university provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit ONU Disability Services.

ONU for the Military

While not a "service academy", ONU does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. Undergraduates have access to one or more ROTC programs and there is an active student veterans group on campus. For more information on policies related to veterans, you can visit ONU Veteran Services . For more information, check out our ONU for Veterans Guide.

ONU offers On-Campus Day Care

For students with young families, ONU does offer some day care. Programs like this are often in very high demand, so be sure to inquire as soon as you can.

Freshmen Living Arrangements at Ohio Northern University

ONU offers on-campus housing, but freshmen are not required to take advantage of it. In the end though, most do choose to live in the dorms.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at Ohio Northern University

ONU has a comparatively small, student body. There were 2,130 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 2,037 (95.6%). Part-time attendance was 93 (4.4%).

Ohio Northern University is Ranked #1,627 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, ONU is about average in terms of overall diversity. We rank ONU #1627 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at ONU by looking closer at the ethnic,  gender,  age, and geographic diversity metrics from the ONU Diversity Guide.

Ohio Northern University Competes in the NCAA

ONU has a total of 710 student athletes, 476 men and 234 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Ohio Northern University Athletics