Ohio Northern University

What Ohio Northern University does

Ohio Northern University (ONU) is a private, nonprofit comprehensive university founded in 1871 and headquartered on a single main campus in Ada, Ohio. It serves undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across five colleges: the College of Arts & Sciences, the Dicke College of Business Administration, the T.J. Smull College of Engineering, the Pettit College of Law, and the College of Pharmacy. The institution offers 50+ programs and operates with a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 21, positioning itself as a small, high-touch institution emphasizing experiential learning (internships, co-ops, research, study abroad) and career outcomes (95% of 2025 graduates reported employment or graduate enrollment within six months).

The university's revenue model is tuition-driven and recurring in nature. Full-time undergraduate tuition for 2026-27 ranges from $41,720 (Arts & Sciences/Business) to $48,740 (Pharmacy), with Engineering at $47,420 and first-year Law at $36,700; total cost of attendance ranges from roughly $58,025 to $70,510. Ancillary recurring revenue comes from mandatory and optional housing and dining plans (e.g., freshman housing plus 19-meal plan at $14,100 annually, operated with dining partner Sodexo) and from professional/continuing education such as the per-credit Online JD ($1,535/credit hour) and Master of Science in Accounting ($1,050/credit hour). Financial aid is packaged individually, with an average award of $32,500 and merit scholarships up to full tuition for engineering students.

Go-to-market is a traditional sales-led admissions motion: recruitment through high school outreach, college fairs, campus visits, digital and social channels, alumni referrals, and direct application via the university's admissions portal or common application. Technology infrastructure is standard higher-education institutional systems (Ellucian Banner SIS, Central Authentication Service, Rave Guardian safety app, TransferMate for international payments), rather than proprietary or differentiated platforms. Academic programs carry specialized accreditations (ABET for engineering, AACSB for business, CEPR for public relations), and the university maintains international exchange relationships with 12 partner universities and 7 program providers across 100+ study-abroad locations.

Name

Ohio Northern University

Legal name

Ohio Northern University

Website

https://onu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1871

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Ohio Northern University is a private nonprofit university in Ada, Ohio, offering 50+ undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across five colleges—Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, Law, and Pharmacy—serving traditional, transfer, international, and graduate students through tuition-funded education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ada

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate and Graduate Tuition: Core revenue stream from tuition across five colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, Pharmacy, and Law. Students pay tuition per semester or per credit hour depending on program. Additional fees include student fees, program fees, and international student fees.
2. Housing and Dining Services: Revenue from on-campus housing (residence halls, suites, and apartments) and mandatory or optional meal plans. First-year students are required to carry a meal plan. Housing agreements are binding for the full academic year.
3. Professional and Continuing Education: Revenue from specialized professional programs including the Online JD program, Master of Science in Accounting, summer sessions, January term courses, and bar preparation courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ohio Northern University is a private comprehensive university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across five colleges (Arts & Sciences, Dicke College of Business Administration, T.J. Smull College of Engineering, Pettit College of Law, and College of Pharmacy). It also sells on-campus housing, mandatory and optional meal plans, and supplementary student services such as academic tutoring, career services, counseling, public safety, dining, and study abroad.

Product overview

Ohio Northern University is a private comprehensive university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across five colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business Administration (Dicke College), Engineering (T.J. Smull College), Law (Pettit College), and Pharmacy. The institution provides a portfolio of academic programs including ABET-accredited engineering degrees, AACSB-accredited business programs, and CEPR-certified public relations. Beyond academics, ONU operates comprehensive student services including the Mifsud Center for Student Success (tutoring, career services, writing center), campus dining through Sodexo, on-campus housing across residence halls and apartments, public safety services, and health/wellness resources. The university also facilitates international study opportunities through global initiative programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Polar Bears: Athletic teams and mascot of Ohio Northern University
• True North
• Rave Guardian
• Sodexo
• Polar Career Center
• Polar Bear Food Cupboard
• Writing Center

Products and services

• College of Arts & Sciences Undergraduate degree-granting college offering programs across the humanities, sciences, and social sciences for traditional undergraduate students at Ohio Northern University.
• Dicke College of Business Administration AACSB-accredited business college offering undergraduate majors in Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, Public Relations, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Business, and Sports Management for undergraduate students.
• T.J. Smull College of Engineering ABET-accredited engineering college offering programs including Mechanical Engineering with concentrations in aerospace, robotics, manufacturing, biomedical, automotive, and sustainable engineering for undergraduate students.
• Pettit College of Law Law college ranked nationally for trial advocacy, offering a traditional in-person JD and an Online JD program for graduate and professional students pursuing a Juris Doctor credential.
• College of Pharmacy Pharmacy college with a six-year professional program (P1-P6 years) preparing students for pharmacy licensure and careers in pharmacy practice.
• Online JD Program Distance-delivered Juris Doctor program priced at $1,535 per credit hour (2026-27) on a pay-as-you-go basis, designed to broaden geographic reach for working professionals pursuing a law degree.
• Master of Science in Accounting
• Campus Housing On-campus residential housing including Founders, Park, and Maglott residence halls for first-year students and Klondike's Den, Lakeview, Northern Commons, Polar Place, Stadiumview, and University Terrace apartments for upperclassmen, with annual pricing from $7,850 to $11,775 depending on room type.
• Campus Dining Services On-campus dining operated by Sodexo across McIntosh Dining Hall, Starbucks, WOW Cafe, and Northern Lights Cafe, with multiple meal plan options ranging from $1,600 (Commuter Block 50) to $7,100 (19 meals/week + dining dollars) annually.
• Professional and Continuing Education
• Study Abroad Programs
• Mifsud Center for Student Success
• Public Safety Services
• Health and Wellness Resources

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of 2025 graduates employed or in graduate school within 6 months of graduation
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cenovus Energy Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2025Strategic partnership announced November 2025 supporting engineering students through a $400,000 gift to ONU's T.J. Smull College of Engineering. The gift will fund educational resources, a showcase event, and a dedicated workspace. The partnership aims to enhance practical learning, mentorship, and career pathways for engineering students.
• SodexocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSodexo is ONU's dining partner, operating McIntosh Dining Hall and all on-campus food venues including Starbucks, WOW Café, and Northern Lights Café. Sodexo manages meal plans, catering services, and the Choose to Reuse sustainable dining program.
• Mercy HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMercy Health provides on-campus counseling center services for ONU students, including mental health support, emotional crisis services, and general health assessments and treatments.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (Hardin County Chapter)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerONU's Office of Residence Life partners with Ada Rotary and United Way of Hardin County to raise money supporting Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which delivers age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth to age 5 at no cost to families.
• Ada RotaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ada Rotary to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Hardin County, helping cover book and mailing costs for area children.
• United Way of Hardin CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with United Way of Hardin County to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, covering book and mailing costs for area children in the literacy program.
• Hanyang UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange agreement with Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea enabling ONU students to receive free summer tuition at Hanyang International Summer School. ONU offers fellowships covering tuition, room and board, excursions, and partial airfare for this program.
• Dankook UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange agreement with Dankook University in Seoul, South Korea enabling ONU students to receive free summer tuition at Dankook University's International Summer School Academic Program. Accepted students in the Global Village program receive free housing and partial flight reimbursement.
• 12 International Partner UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONU maintains exchange relationships with 12 international partner universities enabling semester and year-long study abroad opportunities across multiple countries including Spain, South Korea, Cuba, England, Chile, France, China, Germany, Scotland, Costa Rica, and Iceland.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Butler University: Larger private university in Indianapolis with pharmacy college and comprehensive programs. Comparable professional schools (especially pharmacy) and Midwest private university positioning, though at larger scale than ONU.
• Drake University: Private Midwest university with pharmacy and law schools. Comparable mix of professional programs with ABET/AACSB accreditations and similar Midwest private university ranking tier.

Direct peers

• Heidelberg University: Private Ohio university with similar enrollment scale and Midwest regional college positioning. Competes for similar undergraduate applicant pool in Ohio and neighboring states.
• University of Mount Union: Private university in Ohio with similar size and liberal arts + pre-professional mix. Competes with ONU in Midwest regional college rankings and undergraduate recruitment.
• University of Findlay: Private university in Ohio offering pre-professional programs including pharmacy, comparable professional mix and Midwest regional competition, particularly for health sciences and undergraduate enrollment.
• Otterbein University: Private comprehensive university in central Ohio offering business, engineering-adjacent programs and liberal arts. Comparable scale and Midwest regional competition.
• Ohio Wesleyan University: Private liberal arts university in Ohio with similar size, residential model, and undergraduate focus. Competes directly with ONU for Ohio-based prospective students and shared regional rankings.
• Wittenberg University: Private liberal arts university in Ohio competing for similar student profile and regional rankings placement. Comparable residential undergraduate experience and small-college positioning.
• Baldwin Wallace University: Private comprehensive university in Ohio offering AACSB-accredited business and pre-professional programs with similar size and student outcomes focus. Direct competitor for Ohio private university applicants.
• Capital University: Private Ohio university with law school and undergraduate programs. Comparable institutional profile including JD program offering and Midwest regional positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ohionorthern
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/onupolarbears
• Facebookfacebook.com/32011709121
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ohio-northern-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/ohionorthern
• TikToktiktok.com/@ohionorthern

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ohio Northern University