Shawnee State University
Shawnee State University is a public regional university in Portsmouth, Ohio, serving roughly 3,300 students with about 100 degree programs across arts and sciences, business and engineering technology, and health and human services. It operates as Ohio's only open-access Carnegie Opportunity College with a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a Free Tuition Initiative for Pell-eligible regional students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersPortsmouth, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Shawnee State University does
Shawnee State University (SSU) is a public regional university located in Portsmouth, Ohio, serving approximately 3,300 full- and part-time students under a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Founded in 1986 (chartered as a university in 1990) and operated by the State of Ohio through a Board of Trustees, SSU is the only open-access public university in Ohio designated as an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Foundation. The institution delivers roughly 100 degree and credential pathways across three colleges — Arts and Sciences, Business and Engineering Technology, and Health and Human Services — alongside a Graduate School, a School of Nursing, and continuing-education programs through the Center for Lifelong Learning. A second instructional site in Chillicothe hosts healthcare coursework in partnership with Adena Health.
SSU's core technology stack is built on industry-standard higher-education systems: Jenzabar for the student information system and portal (MySSU), Blackboard for learning management with SSO/MFA, Microsoft 365 for collaboration, DocuSign for e-signature, and Digital Commons for the institutional repository. Proprietary internal tooling includes Bear Trax for procurement workflows and blockchain-verified Digital Diplomas & Certificates for graduates. The university reaches students through a multi-channel approach: a primary website, organic social, campus visits, high school and community partnerships, and Slate CRM-driven digital recruitment, all tied into traditional admissions plus specialized funnels for transfer, military-connected, adult, international, and first-generation learners.
Revenue mechanics center on tuition and fees (operating on a four-year tuition guarantee plus graduate, housing, and dining tiered pricing), State Share of Instruction formula funding from Ohio, financial aid administration (federal Pell, loans, state grants, institutional scholarships), and auxiliary campus services. Demand-side signals are mixed: 88% of students receive some form of financial aid, first-year retention has eased from 71.83% (2023 cohort) to 70.83% (2024 cohort), and Ohio Senate Bill 1 has forced identification of low-enrollment programs for elimination (4 cuts confirmed plus 7 pending). Offsetting those pressures, SSU is executing a $32 million campus modernization, transitioning athletics from NAIA to NCAA Division II (Mountain East Conference) starting 2026-27, and extending its Free Tuition Initiative to Pell-eligible students from Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky.
Shawnee State University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shawnee State University
- Legal name
- Shawnee State University
- Website
- https://shawnee.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Shawnee State University is a public regional university in Portsmouth, Ohio, serving roughly 3,300 students with about 100 degree programs across arts and sciences, business and engineering technology, and health and human services. It operates as Ohio's only open-access Carnegie Opportunity College with a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a Free Tuition Initiative for Pell-eligible regional students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shawnee State University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)
Keywords
Where Shawnee State University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portsmouth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Shawnee State University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, course fees, and program fees. Shawnee State operates on a tuition guarantee model where students pay the same tuition rate for four years based on their entry date.
- State Funding (State Share of Instruction): State of Ohio funding distributed based on instructional costs, course completion rates, and degrees awarded through the State Share of Instruction formula.
- Financial Aid Administration: Administration of federal Pell Grants, federal student loans, state grants, and institutional scholarships.
- Campus Services: Housing and dining services, bookstore operations, parking permits, and recreational facilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee - Fixed tuition for incoming students |
| Freemium | Annual | Free Tuition for Pell-eligible Students |
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate Tuition Rates 2026-27 |
| Subscription | Annual | Housing and Meal Plans |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Shawnee State University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shawnee State University is a regional public university offering approximately 100 undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education degree programs across three academic colleges (Arts and Sciences, Business and Engineering Technology, Health and Human Services) plus a Graduate School. It serves around 3,300 students with a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, delivering on-campus, online, and hybrid instruction. Key programs span nursing, health sciences, engineering technology, business, education, and gaming, with industry partnerships and a tuition guarantee model.
Product overview
Shawnee State University is a regional public university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across three academic colleges (Arts and Sciences, Business and Engineering Technology, Health and Human Services), plus a Graduate School. The institution provides approximately 100 degrees and areas of study including bachelor's, associate's, master's, and doctoral programs, with specialized schools for Nursing and Education. The university also offers continuing education through its Center for Lifelong Learning, technology programs through the Kricker Innovation Hub, and operates internal systems including the Bear Trax procurement system and MySSU portal powered by Jenzabar. A notable initiative is the Free Tuition program for Pell-eligible students. SSU serves approximately 3,300 students with a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and was recently awarded $32 million for campus modernization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business and Engineering Technology
- College of Health and Human Services
- Graduate School
- School of Nursing
- Digital Simulation and Gaming Engineering Technology Program
- Kricker Innovation Hub
- Free Tuition Initiative
- Center for Lifelong Learning
- Plastics Engineering Technology Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 70.83% first-year retention rate (2024 cohort)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Shawnee State University
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Shawnee State University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Shawnee State University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Adena HealthcoreHealthcare education partnership allowing SSU students to participate in coursework at Adena Health facilities in Chillicothe. Students in nursing and other health programs benefit from clinical experiences at Adena.
- MilacronminorIndustrial partner for Plastics Engineering Technology program. Provides industry expertise, equipment, and potential employment pipeline for graduates.
- Krauss MaffeiminorIndustrial partner for Plastics Engineering Technology program supporting curriculum development and workforce preparation.
- DMEminorIndustrial partner for Plastics Engineering Technology program providing mold technology expertise.
- iMFLUXminorIndustrial partner for Plastics Engineering Technology program contributing injection molding expertise.
- Stanley Electric U.S.minorIndustrial partner for Plastics Engineering Technology program supporting technology and workforce development.
- Advanced CompositesminorIndustrial partner for Plastics Engineering Technology program providing composite materials expertise.
- LECOM (Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine)coreEarly Acceptance Program for Medical, Dental, Podiatry, and Pharmacy School providing pathway for qualified students to advance directly to professional medical education.
- Marshall University School of PharmacycorePreferential Acceptance Partnership for pre-pharmacy students providing guaranteed admission pathway to Marshall University's pharmacy program.
- Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM)coreEarly Assurance Program providing pathway for qualified students to gain early acceptance to OU-HCOM medical school.
- Intel CorporationminorIntel and Choose Ohio First Scholarship Opportunities supporting technology and engineering students.
- Mountain East ConferencecoreNCAA Division II athletic conference SSU will join beginning 2026-27 academic year.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shawnee State University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ohio University: Ohio's primary public research university in Athens, OH - the dominant in-state public university peer for transfer and graduate pathways; SSU's Chillicothe site even competes in OU-HCOM's regional footprint.
Direct peers
- Concord University: Public regional university in Athens, WV - direct Mountain East Conference peer with similar Appalachian service mission and athletic transition context.
- Marshall University: Public regional research university in Huntington, WV with comparable Appalachian focus, similar health sciences emphasis, and SSU's incoming Mountain East Conference peer beginning 2026-27.
- West Liberty University: Public regional West Virginia university - Mountain East Conference peer and similar small-scale regional public institution competing for Appalachian students.
- Glenville State University: Small public regional West Virginia university - similar enrollment scale (~1,800) and a direct Mountain East Conference peer sharing NCAA Division II transition dynamics.
- Mount St. Joseph University: Private regional university in Cincinnati, OH with similar health sciences portfolio (nursing, OT, PT) and undergraduate transfer focus - competes for non-traditional and transfer students across the I-75 corridor.
- Eastern Kentucky University: Public regional Kentucky university in Richmond, KY with overlapping Appalachian recruitment territory, similar health sciences and education programs, and competing for transfer and undergraduate populations.
- Morehead State University: Public regional university in Morehead, KY - similar enrollment scale and Appalachian focus, and a fellow incoming Mountain East Conference peer; competes for the same regional student pool.
- University of Rio Grande: Regional public-private university in Rio Grande, Ohio operating jointly with Rio Grande Community College - directly comparable small Appalachian Ohio institution competing for the same Southern Ohio student base.
Regional players
- Ohio University-Chillicothe: Regional campus of Ohio University located in Chillicothe, OH - operates in the same secondary market where SSU runs its Adena Health healthcare partnership, creating direct overlap in central/southern Ohio workforce development.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Shawnee State University social profiles
Digital presenceShawnee State University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
Shawnee State University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shawnee State University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Shawnee State University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shawnee State University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shawnee State University
What does Shawnee State University do?
Shawnee State University is a regional public university offering approximately 100 undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education degree programs across three academic colleges (Arts and Sciences, Business and Engineering Technology, Health and Human Services) plus a Graduate School. It serves around 3,300 students with a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, delivering on-campus, online, and hybrid instruction. Key programs span nursing, health sciences, engineering technology, business, education, and gaming, with industry partnerships and a tuition guarantee model.
Is Shawnee State University a public or private company?
Shawnee State University is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Shawnee State University founded?
Shawnee State University was founded in 1990. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Shawnee State University based?
Shawnee State University is headquartered in Portsmouth, United States, in the North America region.
How does Shawnee State University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are state Funding (State Share of Instruction), financial Aid Administration and campus Services.
Who are Shawnee State University's main competitors?
Ohio University is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Concord University, Marshall University, West Liberty University, Glenville State University, Mount St. Joseph University, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University and University of Rio Grande. Ohio University-Chillicothe is listed as a regional player.
Does Shawnee State University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shawnee State University.
What industry is Shawnee State University in?
Shawnee State University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAI, Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.