In the 2025 classifications released by the Carnegie Commission for Higher Education, ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø is the only open access public university in Ohio to be named an Opportunity College and University, a recognition of its work in fostering student success and guiding students toward a path to earning higher wages after graduation.

A navy blue circular badge with three orange stars and the words “Carnegie Classification,� “Opportunity Colleges,� and “Higher Access, Higher Earnings,� followed by the year “2025.�

“Being classified as an Opportunity College and University is an external verifier of the deeply held mission of ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø to provide access to college to the people of south-central Ohio and the opportunity for increased lifelong earnings that improve both personal and community outcomes,â€� said Dr. Kimberly Inman, SSU Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs.

ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø is one of only two Ohio four-year public institutions to receive this classification – and the only one serving a unique open access mission – after Carnegie studied the number of students qualifying for federal grant assistance at SSU and their ability to receive competitive wages after graduation. The Opportunity College and University designation is a further reflection of the university’s commitment to preparing students for successful careers in competitive, in-demand fields. The classification further promotes SSU’s ranking as a Top Performer on Social Mobility by the U.S. News & World Report – an indication of how the university’s graduates are using their degrees to significantly increase their family income, often moving from low-income ranges to the top 40 percent of income earners. 

Also classified by Carnegie as a Professions-Focused Baccalaureate Institution, Shawnee State is committed to providing every student, regardless of major, an opportunity to receive hands-on experiential learning through clinicals, internships, and unique practicums. With regional partners, SSU students are learning and applying techniques outside of the classroom to gain a competitive advantage in their chosen career field. 

“The recent Carnegie Classification of ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø as a Professions-focused Baccalaureate institution reflects that over 64% of SSU graduates earn Bachelor’s degrees linked to particular career sectors including health professions, business, engineering technologies, education, and biological sciences,â€� said Dr. Inman.

The Carnegie Classification is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education. In 1970, the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education began developing a classification of colleges and universities to support its program of research and policy analysis. The framework was first published in 1973 and is now updated every 3 years to reflect changes among colleges and universities.