Ashland University (AU) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Ashland University (AU) is a mid-sized, private, non-profit university located in Ashland, Ohio. It was originally established in 1878 as Ashland College and received its current name in 1989. The main AU campus covers a well-landscaped area of 135 acres. It is located in close proximity to the big city, while providing advantages of a close-knit campus in a small town ambiance. Apart from the main campus, the school also operates smaller centers in different locations across the state, including Columbus, Cleveland, Elyria, Massillon, Mansfield, Medina and Westlake.

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Information Summary

Ranks 41st in Ohio and 995th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	80.4
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$34,792
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	25 / 1230
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	25 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	78% / N/A
Enrollment Total (all students)	6,627

Academics

AU is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is authorized by the Ohio Board of Regents to confer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to the students. The individual programs are also accredited by discipline-based accrediting bodies such as the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the American Association of Theological Schools, the National Association of Schools of Music, the Council on Social Work Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration, the American Chemical Society, and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

The core curriculum inspires the critical thinking and communication abilities in the students to adapt well in any situation. The university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and over seven pre-professional programs. The majors and programs include adolescent & young adult education, art education, biochemistry, biotechnology concentration, toxicology/environmental science, entrepreneurship, intervention specialist K-12, international business, business management, and chemistry education.

There are also adult learners programs tailored to cater to the needs of the non-traditional students. The Division of Adult Studies offers two degree programs: an Associate of Arts degree in General Studies; and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with majors in Business Management or Marketing.

Schools and Colleges:

Degree programs and certificates are available through the following academic units: College of Arts & Sciences; Richard E. & Sandra J. Dauch College Of Business & Economics; Dwight Schar College of Education; Dwight Schar College of Nursing; and Founders School of Continuing Education.

Ashland Online:

For students who prefer to learn from home, there are nearly 100 fully-online or hybrid courses. These courses are offered at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Online programs include Nursing (RN to BSN); and Seminary master’s programs for working pastors. The university offers a wide variety of tools to make online education a unique and enjoyable experience for the students.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Admissions are non-competitive. Applicants must submit the completed application form along with official transcripts from all previously attended institutes as well as official SAT or ACT scores. For international students, ACCESS is the on-site Center for English studies, providing full-time English language instruction and the opportunity for provisional admission to academic programs. Students whose native language is not English must take the following tests to prove their English language reading and writing proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, MELICET, and SPEAK.

Financial Aid

All students seeking financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Financial aid is offered to the students in different forms such as:

Federal and state grants
Student loans
Student employment
Regional grants and scholarships
Scholarships for international students

Scholarships include the Ashbrook Scholarship, Academic Scholarships, Alumnus Grant, Brethren Grant, Buckeye Girls State Scholarship, Honors Program Scholarship, and Ministerial Grant. Federal and state scholarships include the Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant Program (ACG), Federal TEACH Grant, Federal Yellow Ribbon Program, Ohio Academic Scholarship, The National SMART Grant Program, Pennsylvania State Grant, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant.

Loans are a type of financial aid that must be returned with interest. Ashland encourages students to try all scholarships and grants available before opting for loans. Another type of financial assistance comes in the form of student employment, where students can work while studying to bear their own education costs. Ashland offers the following two student employment programs: Federal Work-Study and Regular Student Employment.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 2041st for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Ohio.

Students

The Student Government Association acts as the student voice and organizes a wide variety of activities for the overall development of the students. There are several student clubs and organizations on the campus. Students can either join the existing one or create a new organization/ club. Some of the special interest clubs include Ashland Commuter Eagles, Black Student Union,2nd Amendment Club, Anime Club, Students for Life, College Republicans, Colleges Against Cancer, International Club, Music Appreciation Club, Tuffy’s Troops, and Young Democrats.

Greek life has a strong presence on the campus. There are several fraternities and sororities governed by the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Council. The Greek organizations include Tau Kappa Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Kappa Psi, Alpha Delta Pi, Phi Mu, Delta Zeta, and Alpha Phi.

Media and Publications:

Accent PR is the university public relations club, which provides opportunities for on-campus internships to gain real world experience.

The Collegian is the student-run weekly newspaper. It provides latest news, information and updates.

WRDL 88.9FM is the student-run radio station that provides updates 24/7. TV 2 is the campus television station operated by students.

Campus Facilities:

The library is home to the John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs and the Rinehart Center for Religious Studies. The libraries include a wide collection of books, journals, magazines and references. There is also an online access to the library. Some of the important features include study rooms, computers, fax machine, printers etc.

Commuter Services is committed to keep students informed about the latest information and events through weekly e-mail updates and newsletters. The Hawkins-Conard Student Center is a common place for commuter students to gather between classes. Facilities for commuter students include commuter breaks, commuter lockers, commuter student organization, and commuter advocacy.

Student housing options provide a sense of belonging and involvement into the campus culture. There are six residence halls for freshman students: Amstutz Hall, Clark Hall, Kem Hall, Kilhefner Hall, Clayton Hall, and Andrews Hall. Some of the general facilities available in these residence halls include laundry and lounge area, game/ recreation area, well-equipped kitchen, and a recreation center.

The dining programs have been recognized for excellence by The National Association of College and University Food Service. The Eagles’ Nest is a popular campus eatery that offers a wide selection of grill selections, bakery, salad bar, gourmet coffees and snack items. It is situated on the main-level of the Hawkins-Conard Student Center.

Tuffy’s Smoothie Bar is another on-campus dining option located at the Rybolt Sport Sciences & Recreation Center. Students can enjoy smoothies, specialty coffees, sandwiches, salads, bottled juice, soups, protein bars and pop tarts at this dining outlet.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The athletic department fields both men’s and women’s teams in sports like football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, track, wrestling, cross country, swimming, golf, tennis and more. Their mascot is Tuffy, the Eagle. The athletic teams are nicknamed as the Eagles. The colors are purple and gold. The sports teams participate in NCAA Division II and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Intramural Sports:

Ashland University has an award-winning intramural program that features 20 different sports and nearly 15 sports clubs. More than 250 students take part in the sports clubs on campus. Students, faculty members and staff are encouraged to get involved in the recreation sports and also participate in aerobics, spinning and other fun group exercises. The health and wellness training program promotes the overall health and welfare of the community.

Students can participate in the various performance groups such as Bands – Concert & Marching; Cheerleaders; 3 Choral Groups; Drop of a Hat Players; Eagle Elite Dance Team; and Jazz Orchestra.

Alumni

Graduates of the university have created their mark in various fields. Some of the notable alumni are Carl Benscoter, Vice President of Iscopia Software; Bon-Moo Koo, CEO of LG Group; Bayard Elfvin, US National soccer team goalkeeper; J. Garber Drushal, the eighth President of The College of Wooster; Amanda Norwood, eminent social worker and humanitarian; Robin Meade, CNN news anchor and former Miss Ohio.

Ashland University