Field Guide to Ohio’s Best Colleges: Your Family’s Trail Map from High School to a Best-Fit College
We are proud to announce that our new book, Field Guide to Ohio’s Best Colleges, is now available through our website (http://booklocker.com/books/9787.html) as well as through online booksellers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The book features a deep dive into Ohio’s top 30 four-year residential colleges and universities – we call them “Ohio’s Sturdy 30.” In the book we identify and discuss their best academic majors and co-curricular programs. We also help parents and their students build a plan to clarify everything they want in a college experience and to match that to specific colleges that do everything they want at a price they can afford. This is the only book in existence focusing on Ohio’s unique and exceptional colleges and universities – check it out!
About the Author: After touring 60 of the best colleges in Ohio, Dr. Jay, a prior faculty member and dean, founded College Bound Advantage (CBA) – a Columbus, Ohio college consulting firm. CBA specializes in helping families optimize college selection around 18 “fit factors” and helping students clarify co-curricular and major options while exploring colleges that specialize in them. College Bound Advantage serves all of Ohio including Cleveland, Akron, and Cincinnati metro areas. Check us out at www.collegeboundadvantage.com or check out what we can do for you here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98
2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 336/343/285/293/297/341
% Students Full-Time: 75%
% Students from Ohio: 74%
1st to 2nd Year Retention: 60%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 37%
Middle 50% ACT Score : 16-21
Among other things they are known for: Strong Nursing and Education majors
Unusual Major: Intelligence Studies
Point of Pride: NDC boasts the Academic Support Center, one of only five programs in Ohio designed to support learning challenges such as light autism, ADD, and ADHD. They have solid metrics and we love the ASC!
2019 University Endowment: $13.1M
Campus Video: Check out our video compilation of photos taken on our last visit to Notre Dame College:
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 243/309/335/309/244
% Students Full-Time: 80%
% Students from Ohio: 80%
1st to 2nd Year Retention: 61%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 54%
Middle 50% ACT Score: 19-26
Among other things they are known for: Broad program options in Music and Ministry as well as Business and Nursing.
Unusual Major: Zoo and Wildlife Biology
Point of Pride: Only Ohio “passionately” Christian college located in a large city (Canton). Students hail from 40 denominations; predominantly Protestant and Catholic.
Ask us about: Malone’s annual “Davenport Derby”
2018 Institutional Endowment: $18M
Campus Video: Check out our video compilation of photos taken on our last visit to Malone University:
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 604/587/620/613/602/613
% Full-Time Students: 74%
% Students from Ohio: 88%
1st to 2nd year Retention Rate: 75%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 65%
Middle 50% ACT Score: 19-24
Signature Programs: Ashland has always been known for its strong Education Program which is one of the largest among independent and state institutions in Ohio. They also have a strong Nursing Program with a new, State-of-the-Art Nursing campus in Mansfield.
Stand Out Programs: Ashland also has strong programs in Business (ACBSP accredited), Fashion Merchandising, Toxicology, Forensic Chemistry, Geology, Environmental Science, as well as Commercial Art.
Outside the Classroom: Ashland offers over 100 student clubs and organizations, beautiful workout facility, vibrant NCAA Division II varsity athletics, an active Greek system, and an ongoing stream of campus activities.
Point of Pride: The “Convo’s” great food!
Ask us about: The Ashbrook Scholar Program
2019 Institutional Endowment: $45.3M
Campus Video: Check out our video compilation of photos from our last visit to Ashland University:
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 217/208/211/174/231
% Full-Time Students: 88%
% Students from Ohio: 80%
1st to 2nd year Retention Rate: 60%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 54%
Middle 50% ACT Score: 18-25
Known For: Strong programs in Nursing, Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, and Convergent Media
2019 Institutional Endowment: $23.1M
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 233/182/136/151/157/181
% Full-Time Students: 90%
% Students from Ohio: 56%
1st to 2nd Year Retention: 46%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 35%
Middle 50% ACT Score: 17-21
Known For: Strong programs in Criminal Justice, Athletic Training, and Forensic Science
Unusual Majors: Restoration Ecology, Digital Forensic Science, and Autism Studies (minor)
Point of Pride: Project 701: a unique student-run non-profit organization
Ask us about: The McMaster School for Advancing Humanity as well as the ASD Affinity Program that provides comprehensive services supporting students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
2019 Institutional Endowment: $19.1M
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 186/214/219/219/195/207
% Full-time Students: 81%
% Students from Ohio: 63%
1st to 2nd Year Retention: 60%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 47%
Middle 50% ACT Score: 17-23
Known For: A variety of Equine Studies and Information Technology Management major options
Unusual Majors: Forensic Psychology and Psychobiology concentrations
Point of Pride: 74% of students complete an internship before graduation
Ask us about: The five Residential Learning Community offerings
2019 Institutional Endowment: $33.3M
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .
2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 Freshman Class Size: 92/114/106/78/96/92
% Full-Time Students: 75%
% Students from Ohio: 83%
1st to 2nd Year Retention: 75%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 53%
Middle 50% ACT Score: 17-23
Known For: Strong program in Nursing and Fashion Design
Unusual Major: Historic Preservation and Art Therapy
2019 Institutional Endowment: $24M
Campus Video: Check out our video photo compilation from our last visit to Ursuline College:
View our video on how College Bound Advantage can partner with you and your family in your college search. We can help you save money, avoid land mines, and optimize your college choice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SSjHp8n98 .