Aspire to Realize Your Potential.

Our colleges and universities, powered by research and student success, play a vital role in shaping lives and communities.

The University of Akron
The University of Akron (UA), established in 1870, offers indemand associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and law degree programs. UA provides 200 undergraduate degree programs, including top-ranked online programs for nontraditional students. UA is surrounded by thousands of businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, supporting student access to internships, co-ops and careers. Ranked No. 1 in the world for polymer science and plastics engineering by global ranking site EduRank, UA is home to one of the largest and best-known research and academic programs dedicated to the study of polymers—long chains of molecules that make up mainly rubbers and plastics. With championship-winning NCAA Division I sports teams, hundreds of student organizations and a nationally ranked Student Recreation and Wellness Center, UA provides its students with the full campus experience. 

Bragging Rights
UA School of Law’s intellectual property, trial advocacy and part-time studies programs were ranked among the top 50 in the country by U.S. News & World Report in its 2023 rankings. 95% of spring 2021 undergraduate degree recipients were employed or sought additional education within six months of graduation. 20,000+ employers nationwide recruit UA students for internships, co-ops and part- and full-time employment.   

Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
Founded in 1973, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) harnesses diversity, innovation and collaboration to create transformative leaders and improve health through education, discovery and service. NEOMED’s mission is made possible through its network consisting of several nationally ranked health care systems. The University values leadership, excellence, advocacy, diversity, equity and respect. It has three Colleges—Medicine, Pharmacy and Graduate Studies—and offers Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degrees, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees and research opportunities in other medical and life science areas. In addition to the basic sciences at its Colleges, NEOMED conducts research to advance innovation and discovery in health care through six research focus areas of excellence. NEOMED’s unique areas of service include Coordinating Centers of Excellence, which disseminate best practices for treating mental illness; online didactics and onsite training through several programs; and patient services through its centers at NEOMED Health Care and its award-winning Student-run Free Clinic. Learn more at neomed.edu. 

Bragging Rights
141 College of Medicine students matched with residencies throughout the U.S. for a 100% match rate of all students who completed the match and supplemental offer process. NEOMED announced it will be opening the Bitonte College of Dentistry with the help of a $10 million commitment from Drs. Gary and David Bitonte, directors of the Dr. Dominic A. and Helen M. Bitonte Family Foundation. The Class of 2023 was the largest in the University’s history, graduating 275 new health professionals.   

Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences is the only healthcare system-affi liated college in Northeast Ohio and has the longest running nursing education program in the region. The college is focused on preparing students to become successful practitioners and leaders in the healthcare fi eld. Located near downtown Canton, the college shares a campus with Aultman Hospital, Stark County’s largest hospital and a Magnet-designated facility. As part of this renowned health system, Aultman College students receive unparalleled clinical and learning experiences. Aultman College off ers programs in nursing, radiography, social work, medical assisting, health sciences and phlebotomy, as well as College Credit Plus. Nearly 340 full- and part-time students are enrolled. 

Bragging Rights
The college was ranked third in Ohio for its BSN Completion program. Radiography and nursing graduates consistently exceed state and national averages on licensing exams.  

Kent State University
Kent State University is the highest-ranked public university in northern Ohio on the Top Public Schools and Best National Universities lists by U.S. News & World Report. Kent State offers 375 undergraduate programs of study and 220 master’s and doctoral programs of study. The Kent Campus is located on the banks of the Cuyahoga River and combines a friendly, small-town ambience with proximity to metropolitan centers. With eight campuses spanning Northeast Ohio, a College of Podiatric Medicine, a Twinsburg Academic Center and academic sites in locations around the globe—such as New York City; Florence, Italy; and Curitiba, Brazil—Kent State is one of Ohio’s leading public universities and a major educational, economic and cultural resource far beyond the Northeast Ohio region it has served since 1910. Kent State is a national leader in award-winning student support services to graduate students. The student body comprises more than 33,000 students, including about 1,650 international students from nearly 100 countries. Kent State’s worldwide alumni family exceeds 270,000. Kent State University at Stark is the University’s largest Regional Campus. Founded in 1946, Kent State Stark students receive an affordable university education on a beautiful 200-acre campus with a private college feel. Stark County’s only public university, Kent State Stark serves nearly 4,000 students year-round. In addition, 750 high school students from the Stark County area take advantage of the College Credit Plus program. 

Bragging Rights
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education awarded Kent State the esteemed R1 status for research, the highest recognition that doctoral universities can receive. This prestigious designation affirms Kent State’s place as a top-tier research institution and puts it in the company of universities such as Yale, Harvard and the University of California- Berkeley. Kent State is the sole University in the U.S. to receive the prestigious 2022 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The honor recognizes Kent State for overall excellence in integrating international education throughout all facets of the university and its campuses. Kent State’s School of Fashion is consistently ranked in the top 25 internationally and in the top 10 in the United States. For the 14th consecutive time, Kent State has earned the Military Friendly® School designation for its Kent Campus.   

Malone University
Celebrating more than 130 years of higher education, Malone University is a Christian university for the arts, sciences, and professions in the liberal arts tradition, affiliated with the Evangelical Friends Church. With more than 14,000 living alumni, Malone provides a transformative, faith-integrated environment that equips its graduates with the skills necessary to serve, engage, and transform the communities in which they live and work. Malone University once again ranks among the Best Regional Universities in the Midwest in a recent survey by U.S. News & World Report, achieving #71 overall and #53 for Social Mobility in 2020. Malone is also identified by U.S. News as a Best Value School, ranking 33rd among colleges and universities in the Midwest. College Consensus recently selected Malone as one the Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Completion Programs for 2021, and Washington Monthly again included Malone on their “Best Bang for the Buck” list based on its performance with graduation rates and test scores as well as price of education and graduates’ salaries. In 2020, the first-time pass rate for bachelor of science in nursing graduates on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) was 90%; similarly, social work graduates passed the licensure exam at a rate of 100%, 32 percent higher than the national average. The University has had four faculty Fulbright Scholars in the last ten years, and 82% of the full-time faculty have earned the terminal degree in their discipline. 

Bragging Rights
Unapologetically Christian, Malone’s faith-integrated curriculum helps students understand how their faith impacts all areas of life, including intellectual, spiritual, and community pursuits. Faculty and staff walk alongside students as they discover who God has called them to be. Launched in 2020, the Pendle Hill Pledge is a campuswide commitment to support the vocational and personal growth of every Malone student through mentoring, experiential learning, and holistic career preparation across the curriculum. The annual Research Symposium gives students the opportunity to work closely with faculty members to formally present their own research, showcasing the academic and creative work that prepares undergraduates for graduate-level education. Significant Malonefunded financial aid ($16.7M in 2022) is one way that Malone University demonstrates a commitment to affordability for all students.  

The University of Mount Union
The University of Mount Union, founded in 1846, is a comprehensive, private institution grounded in the liberal arts tradition. The University is located in Alliance, Ohio, less than an hour from Canton, Akron and Youngstown and is just an hour and a half from Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Mount Union off ers an array of broad-based and career-specifi c undergraduate and graduate programs to its 2,100 students. Ensuring its education is accessible to students of all backgrounds, 98% of Mount Union students receive some form of fi nancial aid. As a result, the University was named sixth in Ohio for Best Value by U.S. News and World Report for 2023. The University is committed to providing a studentcentered approach and an exceptional educational experience. For more information, visit mountunion.edu. 

Bragging Rights
The University off ers more than $34.4 million in grants and scholarships each year, aiding in a Mount Union education being 10% lower than the average cost of comparable private institutions in Ohio. Off ering thriving programs in growing industries, Mount Union’s academic catalog includes majors in mechanical engineering, nursing, and Japanese. Mount Union has a network of more than 19,000 accomplished alumni across the world. Notable alumni include actress Carrie Coon; Dr. Shuvo Roy, coinventor of the world’s fi rst implantable artifi cial kidney; and Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni.  

Stark State College
Stark State College offers affordable, quality associate degrees and certificates that propel students of all ages to career success or launches them toward advanced degrees. Stark State’s strong partnerships move Akron, Canton and surrounding communities forward through economic development initiatives such as Strengthening Stark and Elevate Greater Akron, community liaisons with entities such as Mercy Medical Center and Akron Children’s Hospital, employer partnerships that include the FirstEnergy Power Systems Institute and academic partnerships such as Direct Connect with The University of Akron. The College meets the critical need for skilled employees with in-demand programs (nursing, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing and many more) and outstanding facilities, including the WR Timken Advanced Manufacturing Lab and a community dental clinic on the Stark County campus and, in Summit County, state-of-the-art medical labs and IT equipment, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) training site and a welding center. 

Bragging Rights
Lowest tuition in the area Small class sizes for one-on-one attention Professors with real-world experience  

Walsh University
Walsh University is an independent, co-educational, Catholic, liberal arts and sciences institution that promotes academic excellence and diversity and provides close faculty-student interaction. It is dedicated to teaching its 2,450 students from 46 states and 35 countries to become leaders in service to others through a values-based education with an international perspective in the Judeo-Christian tradition. walsh.edu. 

Bragging Rights
100% of Walsh students complete an internship before graduation. 4-Year Graduation Guarantee Walsh students receive nearly $32 million in grants, scholarship and other institutional support each year.