Are you thinking about pursuing an educational degree at a college or university in Ohio? Are you not currently a resident of Ohio, so you feel the need to do your homework in order to learn everything you can about what this state has to offer you? Have you already chosen your educational degree program and you want to be sure that a college or university in Ohio will adequately prepare you for your future career path? If you answered with a confident yes to each of these questions, then you won’t want to stop reading now. Below, you will find the most pertinent information regarding this great state and all that it has to offer you in your educational and career pursuits.
Although when you hear the name Ohio you may not instantly think that it’s a great choice for pursuing your college degree, this great state actually offers 330 total campuses for students to choose from. It is important to keep in mind that 147 of these campuses will offer you an associate’s level degree program, while 89 of them offer a bachelor’s degree program in your field of study, and there are 70 schools that offer graduate level degree programs. The most popular student choice in the state of Ohio is the Ohio State University in Columbus. This large scale university offers more than 170 degree programs in practically any field of study, at the graduate level and undergraduate level. This institution is well known for its degree programs in areas of biology, communications, business and marketing, family and consumer sciences, and social sciences. The second most popular option is the University of Cincinnati, which was established in 1819. This institution is well known for having created the first cooperative education program in the area of engineering within our country. In addition, this learning institution is known as being one of the top 25 public research universities in the United States. Should you decide to attend this university you will be able to pursue an undergraduate degree program or a graduate level degree program in practically any field of study. The third most recognized university in the state of Ohio is Kent State University. Not only is this institution one of the top ranked schools in Ohio, it is also one of the nation’s largest college systems. At Kent State you can choose to pursue one of almost 300 degree programs at an associate’s degree level, a bachelor’s degree level, a master’s level degree, or a doctoral level degree program. You can choose from the college of arts and sciences, college of business administration, the college of architecture and environmental design, and the college of communication and information. The University of Akron is another popular collegiate choice in Ohio. This learning institution offers over 200 undergraduate fields of study, about 100 master’s level degree programs, and 17 doctorate level degree programs. In addition, you can also choose to pursue one of four law degrees.
Situated between Indiana and Pennsylvania, Ohio draws in literally hundreds of millions of tourists every year thanks to perennial sightseer favorites such as Franklin Park Conservatory, Lake Erie, and, of course, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As of 2016, the state has an estimated 11,614,373 permanent residents, making it the 7th most populous city in the United States of America. Of those near 12 million residents, 26.6% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, which ranks Ohio as the 36th best state in America for college graduates. While that ranking certainly isn’t a major accomplishment by any means, it marks a significant improvement since the turn of the millennium, when only 21.1% of those living in Ohio had a bachelor’s degree or beyond.
So why exactly has Ohio seen a more than 5% rise in degree-wielding citizens? There isn’t any one answer, but a lot of it has to do with a changing zeitgeist towards higher education the world over. Since the end of the 20th century, college and university is no longer viewed as a privilege reserved for those who can afford it and is instead looked upon as something close to a certainty for most young people who are willing to put in the hours necessary to obtain a degree. Furthermore, Ohio colleges are offering more courses than ever before and are better equipped to deal with large numbers of students, with Ohio State University, for example, boasting an academic staff of 6,254 and an administrative staff of a staggering 22,987.
Education in cities such as Columbus and Cincinnati, and, indeed, Ohio as a whole, is going from strength to strength, so it's no wonder more students than ever before are making the pilgrimage to the state in search of degrees and a better future. If you’re interested in joining that flock of academics and continuing your study in the Mother of all Presidents, read on.
The aforementioned Ohio State University is generally the starting point for those considering pursuing a degree out of Ohio as it is the state’s most famous institute of education. As noted already, the school has more than 6000 members of faculty and an administrative staff of almost 23,000 people. It also boasts a total of 66,046 enrolled students, which is a bit of an increase when compared to the total of 24 students welcomed by the university when it first opened its doors back in 1870. Today, Ohio State University offers over 200 majors, with each supported by an infrastructure of the finest professors from around the globe.
Since its introduction, the university’s biology major program has been lauded as one of the best in the United States and has attracted aspiring biologists from all over the country - even the world - to Ohio. The Ohio State University biology major is made up of 32 semester hours of biological science courses (three of which must be lab based) at the level of at least 2000. A biology major opens up the door to a variety of further courses and high-paying careers, which accounts for a large portion of its popularity. Many who studied biology at Ohio State University have gone on to work as research scientists or as educators, while some have even used their knowledge of biological sciences to get a foot in the medical school door.
Ohio State University has been shaping great financial minds for several decades through its renowned finance major. Students will study corporate finance, along with investments, financial institutions, global finance, and various other areas necessary to gain a full understanding of the finance field. Finance graduates have been known to obtain starting salaries of upwards of $54,395 with the right combination of skills and internship assignments, so you may want to give this major serious consideration if your primary motivator is making lots of money as soon as possible.
Ohio University
Owing to the similarity of their names, Ohio State University and Ohio University are often mistakenly thought to be one and the same by those who are unfamiliar with the state and its education scene. However, the universities are bound by nothing more than being in the same state and are, in fact, somewhat at odds. Ohio State University is generally regarded as being above Ohio University when it comes to academics, a consensus which those studying at Ohio University loath. While Ohio State certainly does have a better academic record than Ohio University, the latter is not lacking. Despite its reputation, Ohio University is ranked in the top three percent of universities globally, as rated by the Center for World University Rankings. Being a significantly smaller university than Ohio State, it provides students with a much more personalized learning experience and boasts a true feeling of community which is simply not possible at larger schools.
The audiology program offered by Ohio University is ranked among the best of its kind in the United States. The first three years of the program are spent studying primarily in four areas: didactic coursework, guided clinical research, professional clinical training, and dealing with patients. The final year of the course consists entirely of a 12 month supervised externship.Ohio University has one of the most respected psychology departments in all of the United States and is committed to providing a comprehensive and meticulous undergraduate curriculum to all who choose to study within its walls. Graduate psychology programs offered by Ohio University include clinical psychology and experimental psychology, which, admittedly, require a great deal of effort, but open the door to some truly spectacular careers and salaries. For example, were you to use your Ph.D to embark on a career as a child psychologist, you could expect to earn upwards of $67,000 a year. Keep in mind, that figure is likely to increase owing to the western world’s recent realization of the importance of recognizing mental health issues and tackling them early on.
Kent State University
Kent State University’s record as one of the finest places of education in the entire state of Ohio is often overshadowed by the infamous Kent State shootings, which took place on the university’s main campus in 1970. In the decades that have passed since that tragedy, the school has worked tirelessly to return some degree of normality to campus life. Even now, more than forty years later, doing so is a struggle, but it seems Kent State University has reclaimed its place at the top of the education ladder. With an acceptance rate of 85%, Kent State University boasts a total of 40,782 students spread out over eight campuses. The Carnegie Foundation recognizes it as one of the top 77 public research universities in the United States and in 2010 it was declared one of the top 200 universities in the world by Times Higher Education. The university has achieved such impressive accolades through its remarkable ability to recover from its dark past, its dedication to personalizing the learning experience for each student despite its gargantuan enrollment numbers, and, of course, its superior courses and programs.
Among its 300 plus degree programs, Kent State University offers a series of much-lauded nursing courses out of its College of Nursing. The college offers both an associate’s and bachelor's degree in nursing, along with a program for registered nursing, which can be completed entirely online. The College of Nursing at Kent State also offers ten master’s concentrations, including pediatric primary care, women’s health, and nursing and healthcare management. Doctoral programs are also available at the College of Nursing, should you be planning on taking your studies that far.
If you are considering studying library and information science in Ohio, you have no option but to enroll at Kent State University, as it is the only institution in the state to include the subject in its courses. The School of Library and Information Science at Kent State University is not just the only of its kind in all of Ohio, but with over 600 students currently enrolled, it is also one of the largest in all of North America. The school offers degrees in health informatics, knowledge management, user experience design, and library and information science. A Ph.D program is also available.
Kent State University boasts one of the widest selections of online degrees of any college or university in the state of Ohio. Through its Office of Continuing and Distance Education, the school has made it possible for students to pursue their dreams at a time and place that suits them. Among the programs offered by Kent State Online are college teaching, respiratory care, art education, and environment management.
University of Dayton
Although the University of Dayton is technically a Catholic school - something that is reflected in its motto “For God and Country” - it welcomes students of all faiths and from all walks of life. Along with the obvious Roman Catholics who study there, the current collection of students enrolled at the school includes Muslims, Jews, and Christians from Protestant traditions, bringing enrollment at the University of Dayton to a little over 10,000 (this number is helped by the university’s 59% acceptance rate). Obviously, tuition fees at the University of Dayton - and any university, for that matter - will vary depending on what kind of courses you choose. However, the average yearly price of studying at the university comes it at $32,965 after financial aid has been accounted for. Fortunately, over 95% of University of Dayton alumni find meaningful employment within two years of graduating. The median annual salary of a former student six years removed from their final year is $52,300, meaning those pesky student loans will, at the very least, be manageable.At the time of this writing, the most popular major at the University of Dayton is mechanical engineering, which boasts 141 graduates. The undergraduate mechanical engineering program requires students to complete a minimum of 132 hours in classes such as General Chemistry, Principles of Oral Communication,and Engineering Thermodynamics. Lab work plays a major part of the program, so potential students should be comfortable in such a setting. Mechanical engineering majors at the University of Dayton also have the option to complete a concentration within the university’s School of Engineering. Concentrations offered include aerospace engineering and energy systems-mechanical. Minors are available in aerospace engineering, mechanical systems, and human movement biomechanics.
The second most popular major at the University of Dayton, with a total graduate count of 140, is marketing. A lot of people look down on marketing as a career, but you may be tempted to rethink your idealism when you learn that the average salary for a marketing manager in the United States Of America is $70,000 a year. Of course, this isn’t a salary you can obtain overnight, but your first step towards such a well-paid position is a major in marketing from the University of Dayton. The university’s marketing program consists of a total of 125 hours spent studying, among other things, business ethics and oral communication. As well as the option of pursuing a general business major, students have the choice to major in business with an emphasis on product innovation or business with an emphasis on sales management (coursework differs in these programs but the total required hours remain the same).
It’s no secret that high-paying jobs are more difficult to find than ever before. Because of the perpetually growing number of candidates with college degrees in their fields, employers are constantly upping their qualification requirements. This is intended to separate the most appropriate candidates from those let suited to particular jobs, but in reality it makes finding meaningful employment more difficult for everybody. This is the case all over the United States - and the rest of the world - but is particularly worrying in Ohio, where there are less opportunities for unskilled residents than there are in a state like New York or California. A study conducted by The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce regarding employment opportunities in Ohio found that by 2018, close to 60% of jobs in the state will require candidates to possess some level of post-high school education. Fortunately, if you complete your study at an Ohio university, your chances of scoring a job in your field within the state are pretty high.
If you have obtained or plan to obtain a major in marketing from the University of Dayton or one of several other universities in the state of Ohio which offer a marketing program, you should pay careful attention to employment opportunities within Columbus, where there are entry level marketing jobs in copious amounts. The average annual salary of a marketing coordinator operating out of Columbus, Ohio comes in at $49,451, which trumps the annual salary of marketing coordinators in other Ohio cities such as Cincinnati and Cuyahoga Falls. Marketing assistant positions also pay significantly greater salaries in Columbus than they do in most other Ohio cities, with a Columbus based marketing assistant earning $38,129 annually as opposed to the $38,064 yearly earnings of their Cincinnati counterparts or the comparatively measly salary of $36,200 offered to marketing assistants in Chillicothe. It should be noted that while entry level marketing positions are more widely available in Columbus than in almost any other city in the state of Ohio, those who can find a job in the field in Cleveland can expect to earn slightly more than they would if they found the same position in Columbus. For example, somebody who holds the aforementioned position of marketing assistant in Cleveland can expect to earn an annual salary of $49,760, while a Columbus based marketing coordinator will earn almost $500 less.
In 2013, a total of 124,400 registered nurses were employed throughout the state of Ohio, which should give you some degree of confidence if you are hoping to find an RN position without leaving the state. The average annual salary of a registered nurse plying their trade in Ohio comes in at an impressive $29.69, which, owing to the infamously long hours of those involved in the medical profession, makes up a total annual salary of $61,750. There are obvious opportunities for Ohio based registered nurses to advance in their field, with the top 10% of RNs in the state earning an annual salary of more than $78,650. Unfortunately, this also means that there is the chance you will fail to progress in the industry and find yourself earning well below the average salary statewide. 25% of Ohio based registered nurses earned below $52,760 in 2013, while 10% earned less than $47,440. Registered nurses in Cleveland, Euclid, and Lakewood enjoy the highest average RN salary per Ohio city, with typical yearly earnings of $68,635. The Ohio city which offers the lowest average annual salary to registered nurses is Portsmouth, where RNs can expect to earn a still respectable $62,179 per annum.
Career opportunities for material engineers are greater in Ohio cities than they are in most American cities, which may drive some aspiring material engineers to the state as open positions in the field are frustratingly hard to find. For those who may not know, a material engineer works to develop materials which are then used to create innovative and more convenient takes on everything from simple products, such as ice trays, to more complicated things, like wings for military air crafts. A material engineer must obtain a bachelor’s degree in material science and engineering or a similar area, which can be obtained from numerous colleges and universities throughout Ohio, including Ohio State University and the University of Dayton. Because of their unique skill set and the valued service which they provide to both the US government and the American public, material engineers across the United States can expect to earn a pretty impressive salary almost right off the bat. The median annual salary for a material engineer in the Unites of America is close to six figures, coming in at $93,310 in May of 2016. Material engineers based out of the state of Ohio enjoy an average annual salary of $74,668. Material engineer Is earn less than that, of course, though still have a nice median salary of $64,577, which will only increase with time. Ohio material engineer Is earn the highest average amount when they ply their trade in Springfield ($62,930), while material engineer Is in Portsmouth have the lowest average annual earnings ($58,293).
Positions for finance majors in the state of Ohio are plentiful, with openings in lower paying finance positions, such as financial associate, right up to high-paying jobs, such as that of an actuary. An actuary is employed by an insurance agency and is tasked with calculating the probability of occurrence of events which may lead to policyholders making a claim. Based on the findings of the actuary, the agency will alter their policies. The median annual salary of an actuary based in Ohio is $89,430, with some earning up to $149,590 in a year. Of course, entry level positions are unlikely to pay either amount. The average annual salary for an actuary I operating out of Columbus, Ohio comes in at $62,883. Actuary Is in Cleveland, however, can expect to earn slightly more, with most enjoying a salary of $63,276 a year. The city of Portsmouth offers the lowest median salary for actuaries in the entire state of Ohio at $59,243. Mansfield, Ohio is a close second, with actuaries working there earning an average yearly sum of $59,663. It should be noted that while Portsmouth and Mansfield actuary Is earn less than their Columbus and Cleveland counterparts, their annual earnings - just verging on $60,000 a year - are nothing to scoff at and are still well above the median annual income of a US household.