Ohio Northern University is an independent, comprehensive University located in Ada, Ohio, distinguished by nationally ranked academics and a 95 percent job placement rate. The year 2021 marks 150 years since our founder, H.S. Lehr., established the Northwestern Ohio Normal School (our original name), and we remain as devoted as ever to developing students who are ready to immerse themselves in high-impact learning, with more than 60 programs to choose from in our five colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, Pharmacy and Law.

ONU has a rich history of academic excellence, and we're always evolving to meet society's ever-changing needs. We've most recently been recognized for teaching quality, high graduation rates, commitment to volunteer service and providing a high return on investment for our graduates.

ONU requires you to live on campus for three years. New students are assigned housing by the Office of Residence Life and live in either Founders, Park, Maglott, or Stambaugh halls. Returning students choose their housing online during spring semester prior to the upcoming year. You can request a roommate when you complete the online housing forms.

In accordance with the University Housing Policy (as stated in the Student Handbook, pages 36-37) at least one of the following criteria must be met in order for a review of student eligibility to move out of the residence halls for the next academic year. This review for off-campus housing takes place during the academic year prior to the requested year off, as all housing agreements are for a full academic year.

Any student who applies to live off campus, and believes they meet eligibility requirements, should not secure on-campus housing during the spring housing lottery, as they will be responsible for the housing agreement for the full academic year:

• Three years (six semesters) in the residence halls or apartments
• 23 years of age
• The student will be commuting daily from the permanent home address of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) within a 30-mile driving distance of ONU. Please note that the Office of Residence Life considers the permanent home address of the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to be the address of record on file with federal, state and local tax agencies and where a minimum of one of the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) resides. This is the information that is on file through our Financial Aid and Admissions offices.
• Proof of an undergraduate degree
• Proof of having served in the armed forces and qualified for veterans' benefits
• Proof of marriage and proof that the student resides with a spouse within a 30-mile driving distance of ONU

If you do not qualify for any of the above criteria, you are not eligible to live off campus.

To help you with making your final decisions, students are invited to attend Orange and Black Accepted Student Day, a special day of programming. Designed for students in the final stages of their college decision making-process, this event will give you unique insights into the ONU experience.

Employers are on Handshake exclusively to hire students like you for jobs and internships. Your Handshake profile lets you present a full picture of your background and experience to employers. Recruiters can see your classes, extracurriculars, projects and more, so they know you have the skills they're looking for. There are thousands of employers on Handshake: more than 500,000 actually. That number may seem like a lot, and it is, but what does it mean? It means that in every state across the US, there are employers of all shapes and sizes hiring students like you. Including every Fortune 500 company, as well as startups, nonprofits and more.

Polar Bears don't sit on the sidelines; they dive into fun activities every chance they get. And it's easy to do with so many recreational options available at ONU. Coming here means you don't have to give up on your love of sports to be successful. We give student-athletes opportunities they wouldn't find at larger programs.

Available club sports at ONU:

• Fencing
• Ice hockey
• Lacrosse - Women
• Rugby - Men
• Soccer - Men
• Soccer - Women
• Softball
• Ultimate Frisbee - Men
• Ultimate Frisbee - Women
• Volleyball - Men
• Volleyball - Women

With more than 200 clubs and organizations, there's something for nearly every interest at ONU. And if you can't find the club you're after, start it yourself! By getting involved in organizations, you'll uncover opportunities to make new friends, give back, travel, network and learn how to lead.

Technology is a central component of the campus learning environment. The Office of Information Technology provides tech support to the ONU community and introduces and maintains the most current technology, standards, procedures and equipment. Centrally located and accessible to everyone on campus, the IT building offers space for collaborative meetings and one-on-one tech support.

At ONU, we welcome diversity in all its forms. When you surround yourself with people from different backgrounds and cultures, you begin to look at the world through a new lens. And that leads to understanding and inspiration. Come together with the campus community to learn about diversity and celebrate different cultures. Every year ONU sponsors numerous events that foster fellowship and inclusiveness.

Ohio Northern does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities. Accordingly, the University will provide reasonable academic accommodations when the student provides sufficient documentation describing his or her disability and the accommodation(s) requested in accordance with University procedures.

We are dedicated to furthering the educational goals of students through challenging opportunities in uniquely different learning environments and cultural settings. We seek to develop interest, understanding and appreciation of other peoples and cultivate a spirit of world citizenship for our students and the University community.

Polar Preview Days are open to students at all stages of the college search and all academic majors. This visit opportunity gives you a true picture of what the ONU campus has to offer. The day begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 2 p.m. Dates are offered in the fall, spring and summer.
Check out upcoming virtual events featuring informational sessions on our academic programs, admissions next steps and financial aid.