University of Akron vs. ONU

Should I go to University of Akron Main Campus or Ohio Northern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Akron or ONU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Akron Main Campus vs. Ohio Northern University comparison
University of Akron Main Campus Ohio Northern University College 3 College 4
University of Akron Main Campus Ohio Northern University
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Overview

University of Akron ONU
Location Akron, OH Ada, OH
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 13,518 3,042
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #858 #231
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uakron.edu onu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Akron ONU
Tuition (In State) $10,399 $36,500
Tuition (Out of State) $14,839 $36,500
Room & Board $11,070 $13,200
Avg Net Price $15,292 $26,396
Avg Grant Aid $9,452 $26,120
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 96%

Admission

University of Akron ONU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,982 4,537
Admitted 10,624 3,328
Acceptance Rate 70.9%Open 73.4%
Enrolled % 19.7%Open 17.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.78
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Easy Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/25 25/29
SAT Range 950/1190 1173/1376
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026 Aug 15, 2026

Academics

University of Akron ONU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (6%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

University of Akron ONU
Graduation Rate 38% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,100 $71,200
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $263 $279

Diversity

University of Akron ONU
% Men 7% 6%
% Women 9% 9%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 84%
% Black 12% 3%
% Hispanic 2% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

University of Akron ONU
% In-State 91% 83%
% Out-of-State 7% 16%

Campus

University of Akron ONU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Akron Main Campus is larger than than ONU based on total student enrollment (13,518 students vs. 3,042 students)

University of Akron vs. ONU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Akron or ONU?

  • Ohio Northern University is 251% more expensive to attend than University of Akron for in-state tuition ($36,500.00 vs. $10,399.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 146% higher at ONU than University of Akron Main Campus ($36,500.00 vs. $14,839.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Akron Main Campus than ONU ($15,292 vs. $26,396)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Akron Main Campus are 19.2% lower than costs at Ohio Northern University ($11,070 vs. $13,200)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ohio Northern University than University of Akron Main Campus (96% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Northern University students is 176.3% larger than aid received University of Akron Main Campus ($26,120 vs. $9,452)

University of Akron vs. ONU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Akron or ONU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ONU or University of Akron .

  • The average SAT score at Ohio Northern University (1158) is 109 points higher than at University of Akron (1049)
  • Incoming ONU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at University of Akron (23)
  • Accepted freshman ONU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at University of Akron (3.47)
  • ONU has a higher acceptance rate (73.4%) than University of Akron (70.9%)

University of Akron vs. ONU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Akron or ONU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ONU and University of Akron.

  • The graduation rate at ONU is higher than University of Akron Main Campus (65% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Ohio Northern University earn on average $31,100 more per year than University of Akron graduates after ten years. ($71,200 vs. $40,100)
  • University of Akron Main Campus students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than ONU graduates. ($25,500 vs. $27,000)
  • University of Akron graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than ONU graduates. ($263 vs. $279)
  • More ONU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Akron students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/