OHIO welcomes nearly 7,700 new students across all campuses and online

As classes get underway this week, Ohio University welcomed nearly 7,700 new students to its main campus in Athens, five regional campuses, three-campus medical school and OHIO Online.

Growth in applications for programs across health, business, education and STEM-aligned fields indicated continued increases in interest in professional degrees. OHIO also anticipates increases in its four-year graduation rate following a spring commencement that saw a 26 percent increase in undergraduate degrees conferred over the prior year. Couple that with continued strong enrollment in returning Athens undergraduates, and this year’s total enrollment trends underscore students’ focus on minimizing time to degree, reducing costs and ensuring an outcome that delivers value. 

These values align with OHIO’s own commitments and strengths. The University is the only R1 institution in the state that is also classified by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education as an “Opportunity University,” recognizing both high access and high earnings for graduates. OHIO has also been named the state’s Best Value public University for the last six consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report. 

“We know that a college degree increases lifetime earnings and effectively prepares students for an evolving career landscape where their future job may not even exist yet,” said OHIO President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. “We also know that students are looking to ensure this is an investment that will have real impact on their lives, and we are working every day to deliver on that expectation.” 

Ohio University welcomed nearly 4,300 new first-year students and more than 330 transfers to the Athens campus this fall, another strong incoming class following several years of more than 4,000 first-year students, including last year's record-setting class. The Class of 2030 is tracking closely to the University's planned enrollment target, reflecting continued strong demand for the distinctive academic and student experience OHIO provides. 

The class also boasts a strong academic record with a preliminary incoming average GPA of 3.67, on track with 2025’s record high. 

In addition to students arriving at the University with more credits, on average, OHIO’s focus on on-time graduation through its OHIO Guarantee+ program helps drive students to finish in four years or less.  

The Guarantee+ program provides students with an individualized graduation plan and a dedicated Student Success Team to ensure students not only graduate on time but also connect with experiences outside the classroom that help prepare them for career success.

Ohio University enrolls more students in online-only programs than most universities in the state and once again saw enrollment increases in select online programs, including business and interior architecture. Signature undergraduate programs in psychology, project management and nursing also continue to show strong enrollment interest, as well as nationally recognized online graduate programs in fields such as sports administration, health and social work. 

OHIO’s Bachelor of Science in project management is ranked No. 1 in the nation for transfer students by Forbes thanks to its affordability and time to completion,and its industry-leading RN to BSN is No. 1 in the U.S. among public universities.  

Applications for degrees across Ohio University’s College of Health Sciences and Professions increased nearly 20 percent year-over-year with enrollment in those degrees representing more than 1 in 5 students in the incoming Athens-campus class. This underscores the growing demand for healthcare professionals in Ohio and beyond as well as OHIO’s leadership in preparing students for the health workforce.  

The University trains more health professionals than any other institution in the state and is home to the state’s largest medical degree program in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Heritage College received nearly 4,900 applications for only 260 seats across the college’s three campuses in Athens, Dublin and Cleveland. With a mission to prepare students in Ohio for service to Ohio, more than 90 percent of Heritage College students are from the state, making it Ohio’s largest provider of primary care physicians.. 

In addition, OHIO welcomed nearly 200 new students in online graduate health practitioner programs. 

Overall, Ohio University enrolled more than 29,500 students for fall 2026, including students from all 88 Ohio counties, 50 states, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and more than 90 countries worldwide. Official preliminary enrollment data for fall 2026 will be available after September 7, the semester census date. 

“OHIO’s commitment to delivering the best value education and preparing students for in-demand careers continues to drive student interest in our University,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Candace J. Boeninger. “As we look to the future, we’re focused on continuing to deliver the degrees students want and the educational value they deserve.”