Case Western is one of the country's leading research universities. It numbers 15 Nobel Prize laureates among its alumni and current and former faculty. Founded in Cleveland in 1826, the university's name is derived from Leonard Case Jr., a prominent resident of that city. Case Western's urban campus is located on Cleveland's University Circle, a hub of medical, cultural and educational buildings. Enrollment at this private university is more than 10,000, with almost 60 percent of students in graduate programs. The student body comes from all 50 states and 100 countries.
Case Western Reserve University
10900 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44106
216-368-2000
case.edu
A huge public university, The Ohio State University (OSU) enrolls 41,348 undergraduates as of 2010. Most are from Ohio. Another 13,666 students attend OSU's graduate schools. As part of the Big Ten Conference, basketball and football play an important part in campus life. But the school is also an academic powerhouse, offering 175 different majors. In 2010, "Kiplinger" finance magazine listed OSU as one of the best values in public colleges.
The Ohio State University
154 W. 12th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-3980
osu.edu
A small, selective college in a rural setting, Oberlin is known for the quality of its music and liberal arts programs. Since 1920, more Oberlin graduates have gone on to earn Ph.D.s than graduates from any other four-year college. The college is located in Oberlin, 35 miles southwest of Cleveland. Thanks to the conservatory associated with it, music plays an important part in Oberlin's campus culture. More than 500 concerts and recitals are scheduled during the year. The school has 2,800 students, 600 of them in the conservatory, as of 2010.
Oberlin College
173 West Lorain St.
Oberlin, OH 44074
800-622-6243
oberlin.edu
Kenyon's hilltop campus in central Ohio has been described as one of the most beautiful in America. This small liberal arts college is well known for its literary tradition. The English department has nurtured many well-known authors, such as E.L. Doctorow and William Gass. Students have the opportunity to work on the respected literary magazine, "The Kenyon Review." The college also hosts an annual writers' conference. College enrollment is 1,600 as of 2010, and the school prides itself on small classes.
Kenyon College
106 College-Park St.
Gambier, OH 43022-9623
800-848-2468
kenyon.edu
Denison's history dates back to Andrew Jackson's presidency. For historical reasons it has "university" in its name, but Denison's focus is entirely on undergraduate learning. Enrollment is 2,078 as of 2010, and the school prides itself on the quality of its teaching. Denison offers innovative interdisciplinary programs such as "Philosophy, Politics and Economics" and "Neuroscience." Denison's campus, located 27 miles east of Columbus, was designed by the same famed landscape architectural firm that designed Central Park in New York.
Denison University
100 West College
Granville, OH 43023
800-336-4766
denison.edu