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Moderately selectiveUpdated for the 2026-2027 cycle

Ohio Northern University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Ohio Northern University is a private college in Ohio that admits most qualified applicants (around 74%), which puts it in the moderately selective range. A rate like this means it admits more applicants than it rejects; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Your odds at Ohio Northern University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Ohio Northern University weighs, where it ranks among Ohio schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1230, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
74%
Moderately selective
SAT middle 50%
1175-1400
of admitted students
Type
Private
Ada, OH
Average net price
$24,478
per year after aid

What do students study at Ohio Northern University?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Health Professions and Related Programs · 103 (22.5%)Engineering · 102 (22.3%)Business, Management and Marketing · 69 (15.1%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 26 (5.7%)Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies · 23 (5%)Education · 22 (4.8%)Visual and Performing Arts · 19 (4.1%)Computer and Information Sciences · 16 (3.5%)Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Firefighting · 15 (3.3%)Natural Resources and Conservation · 10 (2.2%)

Will I get into Ohio Northern University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Ohio Northern University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Ohio Northern University?

At Ohio Northern University, your real chance depends on far more than the published 74% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Ohio Northern University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Ohio Northern University hard to get into?

Ohio Northern University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 74% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Ohio Northern University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Ohio Northern University, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Ohio Northern University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Ohio Northern University →

Your chances at Ohio Northern University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Ohio Northern University for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Ohio Northern University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1290 SAT?

About 97% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1290 SAT, the middle of Ohio Northern University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1400 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Ohio Northern University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 118025th pctSAT 1290middleSAT 140075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.552%Likely72%Safety76%Safety37%Target
2.879%Safety90%Safety91%Safety73%Safety
3.192%Safety97%Safety97%Safety92%Safety
3.497%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/ohio-northern-university.

How to get into Ohio Northern University

Built from Ohio Northern University's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

Getting into Ohio Northern University comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Ohio Northern University carries about a 3.19 core GPA and a 1350 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1175 to 1400 SAT (24 to 29 ACT). Submit a score at 1288 or higher; below 1175, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Ohio Northern University weighs

Ohio Northern University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

An early application signals interest and gets your file read before the pool fills. Most early deadlines fall on November 1 and Regular Decision on January 1 to 15; confirm Ohio Northern University's exact dates at www.onu.edu.

See your odds and your top moves at Ohio Northern University →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.onu.edu ↗

How many students apply to Ohio Northern University, and how many get in?

4,537 students applied to Ohio Northern University for fall 2023; 3,328 were admitted (73.4%). 587 enrolled. Only about 18% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Ohio Northern University enrolls about 2,489 undergraduates in total, 45% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

Applied
4,537
fall 2023
Admitted
3,328
73.4% of applicants
Enrolled
587
18% yield
Undergraduates
2,489
Ada, fringe town

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Ohio Northern University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Ohio Northern University scored between 1175 and 1400 on the SAT (average 1252). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 24 to 29. A score above 1400 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1175 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Ohio Northern University is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
1175-1400
average 1252
ACT middle 50%
24-29
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Ohio Northern University looks for

What Ohio Northern University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

Ohio Northern University signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Ohio Northern University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Ohio Northern University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Ohio Northern University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1230 SAT →Colleges for a 26 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Ohio Northern University cost after financial aid?

Ohio Northern University's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $53,580 per year. Tuition and fees alone are $39,800. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $24,478 a year, and it ranges from $18,525 for families earning under $30,000 to $27,710 for families earning over $110,000. 21% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$53,580
per year, before aid
Average net price
$24,478
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
21%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$18,525
$30k to $48k$19,223
$48k to $75k$22,336
$75k to $110k$25,605
Over $110k$27,710

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Ohio Northern University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Ohio Northern University student who received federal aid earns $80,928 a year, up from $62,686 at six years. 75% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 84% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $27,000; 55% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$80,928
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
75%
within six years
Retention
84%
return for year two
Median debt
$27,000
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Ohio Northern University compares in Ohio

Ohio Northern University ranks #20 most selective of 45 schools in Ohio in our database.

Among the 45 Ohio schools we track, Ohio Northern University ranks #20 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Denison University (17%) and Kenyon College (31%) sit nearby, which makes Ohio a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Denison University
17%acceptance · OH
Kenyon College
31%acceptance · OH
Oberlin College
34%acceptance · OH
Case Western Reserve University
37%acceptance · OH
Wilberforce University
41%acceptance · OH
Defiance College
48%acceptance · OH
Ohio Wesleyan University
56%acceptance · OH
Franciscan University of Steubenville
58%acceptance · OH
See all Ohio schools →

Similar to Ohio Northern University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If Ohio Northern University is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Alfred University, Biola University, and Chestnut Hill College. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Alfred University
74%acceptance · NY
Biola University
74%acceptance · CA
Chestnut Hill College
74%acceptance · PA
Elmhurst University
74%acceptance · IL
Emmanuel University (GA)
74%acceptance · GA
Gannon University
74%acceptance · PA

Frequently asked questions

What is Ohio Northern University's acceptance rate?

Ohio Northern University admitted 3,328 of 4,537 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 73.4% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 18% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Ohio Northern University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1175 to 1400 on the SAT and 24 to 29 on the ACT. A score above 1400 is in the top quarter of admits. Ohio Northern University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Ohio Northern University test-optional?

Yes. Ohio Northern University reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Ohio Northern University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Ohio Northern University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $24,478 a year against a sticker price of about $53,580. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $18,525 on average.

What do Ohio Northern University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Ohio Northern University are $80,928 a year among students who received federal aid, and 75% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Ohio Northern University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Ohio Northern University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Ohio Northern University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Ohio Northern University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Ohio Northern University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Ohio Northern University specifically.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.