James A Rhodes State College (JARSC, ) Introduction and History

Introduction

James A. Rhodes State College, located in the small city of Lima, Ohio, provides a traditional blend of career development programs and academic degrees for students seeking to better their job prospects or begin their college careers.

Named for a former Ohio governor, the college shares a campus with Ohio State University’s Lima campus and has close ties to OSU, making it easy for Rhodes students to transfer to the university or take advantage of its programs.

The college’s health programs, which are very successful in preparing students for careers in the health field, are popular. Rhodes graduates have a very high success rate in passing state licensure exams.

Information Summary

Ranks 105th in Ohio and 2701st overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	54.8
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$5,285
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	13 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	62% / 52%
Enrollment Total (all students)	4,002

History

The college opened as Lima Technical Center in the late 1960s. The school started out offering nursing classes to a small number of students. By the mid-1990s, enrollment had grown to more than 2,500 students and a wide variety of courses and programs were offered at the college. In 2002, the college became James A. Rhodes State College, renamed for a former Ohio governor. Governor Rhodes served as Ohio governor for four non-consecutive four-year terms between 1963 and 1983, one of the few governors in the U.S. to serve four four-year terms.

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Academics

Rhodes offers career and academic classes and has a very heavy emphasis on health-related programs. Also of interest are the college’s computer and engineering courses. Engineering courses are typically relevant to manufacturing and industry.

Popular Majors

The college offers nearly 100 associate degrees and career technical programs. Distance learning courses are available to help provide more delivery options for students with family and work responsibilities.

The college library is home to more than 80,000 research materials, and students are also able to request items from OSU libraries. The college also provides a number of services to help support its students, including a testing center, a reading and math center and other tutoring services.

Transfer of Credits

The college has articulation agreements in place with a variety of four-year schools to ensure that credits transfer to colleges and universities. The college also has programs allowing high school students to take courses for high school and college credit.

Recognition

The college has recently been recognized for achievements in providing educational excellence, winning,the UJAMAA Community Enrichment Award in 2010 and being a National Bellweather Award Finalist in Institutional Effectiveness and Planning.

Accreditation

Rhodes is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Admissions

The college has an open admissions policy, meaning that any student with a high school diploma or GED will be accepted. However, some programs, such as nursing and health, may have ACT test score and other requirements.

Students may be asked to take a COMPASS placement test to determine whether they will need to take remedial courses. The school has a rolling admissions deadline, but students applying for financial aid should turn in their documentation by February 15th. Students should also complete the FAFSA and turn in high school transcripts as well as test scores and other relevant information.

Financial Aid

Students applying to the college are eligible for federal grants and student loans. There are also a number of grants and scholarships offered by the state of Ohio, the college itself, and other outside organizations that students may be eligible for. For example, the Lima Rotary Club offers scholarships for residents of Allen County.

The college’s website includes a comprehensive list of scholarships and other programs, such as short-term loans. The college’s office of financial aid stands ready to help students find other grants and scholarships for which they may qualify. About 80 percent of students receive financial aid of some type.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5760th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Ohio.

Students

Student Clubs and Organizations

The school is home to a variety of student clubs and organizations, including professional and academic groups, religious groups, political organizations and recreation groups like the Grub Club, which explores cultural diversity through food.

The college has a newsletter, The Communicator. Also, the college regularly sponsors What’s On Wednesdays programs for student entertainment. In partnership with OSU, Rhodes offers theatre and choral programs to students interested in the performing arts.

Campus Facilities

The college has an open gym that students can use to keep fit. For students who are parents, the college has a child care center offering services to children ranging in age from six weeks to six years. More than a daycare, the center offers children structured activities intended to foster their later education.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

A member of the NJCCA, the school participates in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference. The college offers men’s basketball, baseball and golf; and women’s basketball and volleyball as well as a number of intramural sports for students.

The athletic teams are known as the Barons.

James A Rhodes State College