ATHENS, Ohio — Ohio University recently released its enrollment numbers for the fall 2024 semester, seeing a growth of more than 1,300 students.

The university said its gorwth continued in undergraduate, graduate, regional campuses, its three-campus medical school and in its OHIO Online undergraduate programs. According to a news release, the influx of students brought a 4.6% gain to a total of 29,625 students.

What You Need To Know

  • OHIO welcomed students from all 88 counties in the state as well as from all 50 states and 99 countries worldwide

  • The university said it had a record-high 27,000 applications for the fall semester

  • Within the first year class, students entered with an average GPA of 3.64 with more than 12% of the group ranking in the top 5% of their high school graduating class

  • OHIO noted a rise in its retention rate as well at its Athens campus, jumping for the second year in a row to 84.1%

“We are continuing to see students and families interested in the value we offer in terms of affordable, level-rate tuition but more importantly our focus on outcomes,” said President Lori Stewart Gonzalez in a news release. “Our focus is on ensuring our students leave ready to seize the success they deserve. We recently refreshed our University mission and vision, and we are doubling down on our promise to deliver the most valuable University education in Ohio – for our students, for the communities we serve and for the state.” 

OHIO welcomed students from all 88 counties in the state, from all 50 states and 99 countries worldwide. There were 4,345 new students in its first-year class settling into Athens. The university said it had a record-high 27,000 applications for the fall semester.

There were 628 non-Ohio students registered in the first-year class with most hailing from Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Illinois. OHIO said there was a 4% growth in first-year students enrolling from Appalachian counties in Ohio, including 136 enrolled through the President's Opportunity Promise Program, which allows qualifying Pell-eligible students in Athens County, or any of its bordering counties in Ohio, to attend the university tuition-free. 

The program, along with federal and state aid programs, helped grow the percentage of Pell-eligible students as a portion of the first-year glass, climbing 5 percentage points to 28.3%.

Within the first year class, students entered with an average GPA of 3.64 with more than 12% of the group ranking in the top 5% of their high school graduating class.

According to the news release, OHIO saw a nearly 26% growth in its new student online undergraduate enrollment and nearly 14% growth in total online undergraduate enrollment.

Regional campuses also saw growth including Ohio University Chillicothe, Ohio University Lancaster and Ohio University Zanesville. In total, enrollment across the five campuses gained 3,858, a 2% gain. Chillicothe is the largest regional campus with 1,208 enrolled students.

Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine enrollment grew 1%, rising into more than 1,000 students. With campuses in Athens, Dublin and Cleveland the Heritage College exclusively enrolls cadidates to train as physicians, focusing on training osteopathic primary care physicians.

“OHIO’s continued enrollment successes are the result of significant work by our faculty and staff to consistently deliver a valuable, transformational education,” said Vice President of Enrollment Management Candace J. Boeninger in a news release. “At every OHIO campus and online, we are proud to welcome and continue to serve these talented students, and we remain committed to supporting their success at Ohio University and beyond.”

OHIO noted a rise in its retention rate as well at its Athens campus, jumping for the second year in a row to 84.1%. The university says it's the highest retention rate they've seen since 2002.