By 1812Blockhouse
The Ohio State University at Mansfield is continuing a multi-year rise in enrollment, welcoming 470 new freshmen this fall and marking its fourth consecutive year of growth. The incoming class is 16% larger than last year’s first-year class and represents more than 40% growth in freshman enrollment over the past two years.
Students are arriving from throughout the Mansfield campus’s 21-county service area in north central and northeastern Ohio, but this year’s class has a particularly strong local and regional presence. Half of the new students come from Richland, Crawford, and Ashland counties, while significant numbers also arrive from the Canton, Akron, and greater Cleveland areas.
“This year’s class is large and highly motivated to come to our campus,” said Dean and Director Jason Opal. “Over 60% are first-choice students who applied specifically to Mansfield, not to Columbus.”
Affordability Driving Interest
Opal said part of that growth can be traced to Ohio State’s Regional Campus Commitment, which makes tuition free for eligible students from lower- and middle-income families.
Under the program, students from households with adjusted gross incomes below $100,000 can attend tuition-free if they begin at the Mansfield campus and complete their degree in four years. The Regional Campus Commitment works alongside the university’s Buckeye Opportunity Grants, which cover tuition and fee costs not already met for students who receive a Pell Grant. Together, the programs can make an Ohio State education possible without tuition costs for a broad range of students choosing to begin their college careers in Mansfield.
Students Choosing Mansfield Majors
The new freshman class is showing especially strong interest in biology, business, and engineering technology, all programs that can be completed as four-year degrees at the Mansfield campus. Psychology and English also experienced growth, while education and social work continue to be among the campus’s core academic offerings.
“We don’t have any easy majors,” Opal said. “We deliver Ohio State in a small college setting, period. But we also pride ourselves on being open, supportive, and welcoming, and we do a lot to make sure our quiet wooded campus is lively and dynamic.”
That combination of Ohio State academics and a smaller campus environment has become a central part of Mansfield’s identity.
A Campus in the Woods
Ohio State Mansfield sits on 644 forested acres, giving students access to an environment that differs sharply from a traditional urban college campus. Among its features are a maple syrup production facility, a pollinator habitat, and miles of wooded trails.
For students who want an Ohio State degree but prefer a smaller academic community, the Mansfield campus offers both the resources of the university and the atmosphere of a close-knit college. And with four consecutive years of enrollment growth now behind it, campus leaders believe the upward trend is not finished.
“We expect to keep growing,” Opal said.
Source: OSU
