Ohio University Chillicothe celebrates enrollment growth

Ohio University Chillicothe enrolled 200 incoming first-year students this fall, marking an almost 10 percent increase in freshman class enrollment over last year. With a total enrollment of 1,208, OHIO Chillicothe’s enrollment has grown nearly 19 percent over the last two years.

Dean of Campus and Community Relations Roberta Milliken said she believes such growth is ultimately about students choosing an experience that will set them up for success in their communities, or wherever they choose to go. 

“Ohio University Chillicothe knows that taking the next step of going to college doesn’t have to mean going away to college. Our students seek opportunities in their communities, where they have already thrived and built connections. We offer them an affordable, accessible and flexible pathway to a respected degree and in-demand career,” Milliken said. 

OHIO’s regional campuses focus on meeting regional workforce needs, resulting in growth in in-demand fields such as business and nursing. Over the last two years, regional students committed to their communities have benefitted from new programs designed to increase their access to and success at the University, including the OHIO Regional Promise. The Regional Promise Award covers the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying incoming first-year, full-time, regional campus students who are Pell-eligible and have earned a minimum high school GPA of 3.0.

More than 350 middle and high school students from more than 20 school districts enroll at OHIO Chillicothe through the College Credit Plus program which allows secondary students to earn college credit and satisfy high school graduation requirements at the same time by taking college-level courses. College Credit Plus promotes rigorous academic pursuits and provides a wide variety of options to college-ready students. 

The Ohio University Chillicothe campus, founded in 1946, is the oldest regional campus of Ohio University. OHIO Chillicothe serves a large area of south-central Ohio, offering 13 bachelor’s degrees and 11 associate degrees. The top programs (by enrollment) at OHIO Chillicothe include nursing, business, education, social work and psychology.