花季传媒 recognized as Ohio鈥檚 best value public university for the sixth consecutive year by U.S. News and World Report

For the sixth year in a row, 花季传媒 has been named the best value public university in the state of Ohio in the latest , further underscoring OHIO鈥檚 continued commitment to delivering a high-quality, affordable education for Ohio students and families.

In addition to being the best value in the state, the rankings also placed OHIO among the top 40 best value public universities in the nation (39th overall).

鈥淲e are proud to once again be recognized by U.S. News & World Report for the value of an 花季传媒 education,鈥� 花季传媒 President Lori Stewart Gonzalez said. 鈥淎s a public university, our mission is to open doors鈥攅xpanding access and creating meaningful opportunities for students and families across Ohio. Student success is always our top priority, and we remain focused on providing the experiences, resources, and support that help our students thrive in the classroom and prepare for successful careers.鈥�

U.S. News and World Report鈥檚 rankings methodology for best value specifically considers the ratio of quality to price, the percentage of full-time undergraduates receiving need-based scholarships or grants, the percentage of need-based aid recipients awarded scholarships or grants, and the average discount covered by those scholarships or grants.

In recent years, OHIO has implemented multiple initiatives to ensure affordability and student success, including the OHIO Guarantee+ program, which provides a fixed cost of tuition, housing, and meal plans locked for four years or 12 consecutive semesters. The Guarantee+ goes further than locking rates; however, it also offers an individualized graduation plan for each student that ensures students graduate on time and on plan, or the University will make it right.

Additionally, at the start of President Gonzalez鈥檚 tenure, she implemented the President鈥檚 Opportunity Promise , which increases higher education access for qualifying Pell-eligible students in Athens County, and all contiguous Ohio counties, to attend 花季传媒 tuition-free. 

One of OHIO鈥檚 standout programs this year is its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, which jumped 31 spots in national rankings compared to last year 鈥� further cementing the University's growing prominence in the health care field and preparing students for in-demand careers.

OHIO鈥檚 Nursing program in the College of Health Sciences and Professions, which offers innovative and accessible programs including online RN to BSN , and online DNP degrees, as well as traditional on-campus BSN programs on several of 花季传媒 campuses, has received numerous other accolades including OHIO鈥檚 BSN to DNP program being ranked 2nd in the country and the nurse practitioner program ranked 3rd in Ohio by Allnurses.com.

U.S. News鈥� recognition of OHIO鈥檚 nursing excellence builds upon other recent national accolades, including the latest Carnegie Classifications, in which the University and many of OHIO鈥檚 regional campuses, including Chillicothe, Southern and Zanesville, were also recognized.

OHIO鈥檚 undergraduate Business program in the College of Business, renowned for

its comprehensive curriculum and world-class faculty, rose 26 spots in the latest U.S. News rankings.

Additionally, the College of Business鈥� Master of Sports Administration (MSA) was recently named the world鈥檚 best postgraduate sports management degree for 2025, by SportBusiness, an international sports business intelligence service.

Several other undergraduate programs ranked as some of the top in the state, including the undergraduate Psychology program in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the undergraduate Computer Science program and undergraduate Engineering program in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology.

鈥淓arning recognition as the top value in the state reflects OHIO鈥檚 strong commitment to academic excellence and affordability,鈥� said Executive Vice President and Provost Donald J. Leo. 鈥淭his achievement is a testament to our nationally ranked programs and to the dedication of our faculty and staff, who work every day to support student success and help them realize their full potential.鈥�

Beyond academics, OHIO was also recognized for its commitment to helping veterans and active-duty service members achieve academic success, ranking 145th in the country for the best college for Veterans. The University has also continued to be designated as a military-friendly campus, a designation its held for 14 consecutive years.

In addition to the most recent U.S. News rankings, OHIO recently announced that it had once again seen a significant increase in total enrollment this fall, climbing to 30,682 for a 3.6% year-over-year increase. Not only did the University see growth in its first-year class, welcoming a record 4,550 students, but also increased its retention rate, reaching 84.7% in Athens and continuing gains across regional campuses as well.

The University welcomed 8,195 new students in total across its undergraduate and graduate programs, including nearly 1,500 new students pursuing graduate education and nearly 250 new students training to become physicians at OHIO鈥檚 Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.