Youngstown State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Its mission statement says, “Youngstown State University provides open access to high-quality education through a broad range of affordable certificate, associate, baccalaureate, and graduate programs.” It is classed as a Master’s College and University I by the Carnegie Institute.
| Overall Score (about) | 80.4 |
| Total Cost On-Campus Attendance | $22,851 |
| Admission Success rate | N/A |
| ACT / SAT 75%ile scores | 24 / 1190 |
| Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty | 24 : 1 |
| Retention (full-time / part-time) | 76% / 33% |
| Enrollment Total (all students) | 12,607 |
Youngstown State University offers more than 100 undergraduate majors, as well as various certifications. The undergraduate class is characterized by academic excellence, with more than 180 current students who were valedictorians of their graduating class. There are 407 full-time professors, 83% of whom possess the terminal degree in their field. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1. Youngstown is made up of six undergraduate colleges including Arts & Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Business Administration, Health & Human Services, Education, and Fine & Performing Arts.
Youngstown State University has academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. There are 7 colleges: the College of Arts & Sciences, the William Rayen College of Engineering & Technology, the Williamson College of Business administration, the Beeghly College of Education, the Bitonte College of Health & Human Services, the College of Fine & performing Arts, and the School of Graduate Studies and Research. Youngstown State is also a partner with the Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine, which allows students to be part of an accelerated medical school program.
Bachelor’s degrees are offered in approximately 100 fields within the various academic colleges. Degrees at the bachelor’s level can be received in such areas as accounting, allied health, astronomy/physics, civil engineering, clinical laboratory science, community health, dental hygiene, education, French, hospitality management, journalism, management, religious studies, nursing, social work, theater studies, and telecommunication studies.
Graduate programs are offered in 20 areas, many with specializations. These include master’s level programs in American studies, English, business administration, music, physical therapy, public health, chemistry, environmental studies, mathematics, counseling, education, chemical engineering, nursing, and social work. A doctoral degree is offered in education. There are certificate programs in 8 areas, including bioethics, literature for children and young adults, and working-class studies.
The Africana Studies program is interdisciplinary and focuses on history, culture, and the society of African peoples. One purpose of the program is to examine the problems developing within the increasing diversity of our world and determine potential solutions to those problems. The program offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Africana Studies, and is also available as a minor to complement majors in history, literature, economics, education, or social sciences.
The program in Peace and Conflict Studies examines the broad history of human conflict and puts it into perspective, applying that knowledge to the current state of affairs in our world. Because peace studies involved every major discipline, students in the program are required to take a certain number of hours in history, religious studies, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology.
The Department of Human Performance and Exercise Science is intended to prepare students for careers in therapy or physical education in a variety of settings. Research is performed and integrated into the curriculum to provide students with classroom and laboratory experience, as well as the ability to link theory with practice.
Youngstown State University has an undergraduate Honors Program. Students who seek admission to the Honors Program need to be in the top 15% of their high school class and score at least a 26 on the ACT or an 1160 on the SAT. Once admitted to the Honors Program, students will be able to live in the Honors Dorm, take Honors courses, finish a senior thesis/project, and take part extracurricular activities.
The Metro College offers credit and non-credit courses on campus on the evenings and weekends, or on-line. It also provides learning opportunities for person over 60 and links students in health fields with agencies and organizations serving local communities.
Youngstown State University is also home to several specialized centers, including the Center for Islamic Studies (part of the Consortium for Educational Research on Islamic Studies), the Center for Working Class Studies, and the Center for International Studies and Programs.
Youngstown State provides “open enrollment” to Ohio residents who are high school seniors, meaning there is no requirement for standardized test scores, high school grade point average, or class rank. Admission to particular areas of study may be limited and granted after evaluation of completed high school curriculum. For Ohio residents, Youngstown requires a $30 non-refundable application fee, completed application, a high school transcript, and indication of passing grades on the Ohio 9th grade proficiency test. Scores from the ACT or SAT examinations are required to also be submitted, but, as mentioned above, the resulting scores will not be used to determine admissions status for Ohio residents. For non-residents, Youngstown requires an ACT composite score of 17 or more or a SAT score of 820 or more, or a high school rank in the upper two-thirds of the graduating class. The admissions office facilitates three Preview Days each year, giving students the opportunity to interact with faculty and admissions personnel and learn about Youngstown’s academic offerings, campus life, and other aspects of the University experience. There are also similar preview events available to transfer students and nontraditional students.
Youngstown State University has an undergraduate admissions deadline of August 15 for the fall semester; students are encouraged to apply at least two months earlier, however. The application fee is $30. Applications can be submitted on-line. Students who are enrolled in high school at the time of application will need to have their official final high school transcripts sent after graduation to the Admissions Office.
As part of their application, students should submit high school transcripts and ACT or SAT test scores. Students should have completed high school courses as follows: 4 units of English, 3 units of mathematics, 2 units of history and social studies, 2 units of science, 1 additional year of science or social science, 2 units of a foreign language, 1 year of fine or performing arts, and 1 year of electives. Some majors have additional requirements. Students must also have passed all 5 sections of the Ohio proficiency exam. YSU has an open enrollment policy, but admission to some courses or programs may depend upon a high school GPA. Students from out of state must meet other requirements.
Transfer students and international students will have varying requirements depending upon their prior educational background.
Students applying to the graduate programs at Youngstown State University should consult the individual department and/or school to which they are applying for deadlines and specific program requirements. Applications can be submitted on-line, and the application fee is $30. General requirements include the GRE or other appropriate test scores (such as the GMAT) and a bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of 2.7.
Youngstown State benefits from the existence of the YSU Foundation, a charitable endowment with over $125 million in assets. This means it is capable of providing more than $4 million in scholarship aid to its students. Interested students must submit a scholarship application before February 15 each year to be considered for such opportunities. This application is also a one-stop process to be considered for all other scholarship opportunities, not just the FSU Foundation’s Scholarship for Excellence. YSU offers a variety of institutional awards at varying levels, including the University Scholars program, which provides a full-cost scholarship of approximately $12,500. Other similar programs include the Trustee’s Scholarship ($3,000), the President’s Scholarship ($2,500), and the Deans’ Scholarship ($2,000).
Tuition at Youngstown State University is $2,499.96 per semester for the 2005-2006 academic year for in-state, undergraduate students attending full-time. There is an additional general fee of $552.00. Students applying from out of state and graduate students have higher costs.
Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans. Student employment is also available. Students who seek financial aid will need to fill out the Federal Student Financial Aid Form, available on-line. The University Scholars Program awards full tuition, room, and board to 40 students per year. University Scholars live in the Honors Dorm and also receive their textbooks free.
Graduate students may also receive financial aid in the form of teaching or research assistantships, including a stipend and a waiver of some or all of the tuition and other fees. Graduate students should consult with their individual department about what sort of assistantships or fellowships are available and about the details of the application process.
Youngstown Students have access to over 120 different student organizations, including artistic, cultural, political, and leadership-oriented groups. The SOAR (Summer Orientation Advisement and Registration) program is an entry-level experience for new students and helps them get involved with groups on campus that fit their needs and abilities. The student affairs office organizes and manages intramural sports, judicial affairs, career services, and the important Center for Student Progress, which assists students with improving their skills in all categories.
Student life at Youngstown State University includes opportunities in a diverse range of activities and organizations. There are fraternities and sororities, academic and professional groups, religious organizations, cultural organizations, political groups, and special interest groups such as the Amateur Radio Club, the Historic Preservation Club, the Gospel Choir, and the Penguin Story Tellers. Intramural sports include dodgeball, arena football, and table tennis. Students can write for the student newspaper or the literary magazine, see exhibits at the Rose Mehlnick Medical Museum, or see exhibits and performances in art, music, and theater.
The Youngstown State University Penguins compete in NCAA Division I (Division I-AA for football), the Horizon League, and the Gateway Football Conference. Sports include baseball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball. Stambaugh Stadium (nicknamed the “Ice Castle”) has been hosting YSU football games for over twenty years. The Penguins home record since then is 106-33 or 76%. The Ice Castle seats over 20,000 and is regarded as one of the best football facilities in the Midwest. There are 26 luxury suites, a comfortable press area, and the DeBartolo Stadium Club room. The basketball and volleyball teams compete in the beautiful Beeghly Physical Education Center, which recently underwent major renovations at a cost of $2.5 million. Beeghly Center seats 6,000 and includes Olympic swimming and diving facilities, racquetball courts, classrooms, offices, and hosts outside competitions for high schools and other athletic organizations. Other Youngstown athletic facilities include Eastwood Field and Cene Park (baseball), McCune Park (softball), Boardman Tennis Center, Beeghly Natatorium, and various exercise and conditioning facilities.
Youngstown State University is an NCAA Division I School. The football team is Division I-AA in the Gateway Conference; other teams compete in the Horizon League. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and track & field. Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. The sports teams are supported by a spirit squad, which includes a cheerleading squad, a marching band, a majorette squad, and mascots Pete and Penny Penguin. The team nick-name is the Penguins.
Athletic facilities at Youngstown State University include a 20,630 seat football stadium, the Beeghly Center for basketball and volleyball, a 10 lane pool with a diving well, baseball and softball fields, and tennis courts.
Among the championships and awards that Youngstown State University has received are 4 national championships in football, and conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances in women’s basketball.
Student athletes receive academic support from the university in the form of tutorials, an academic center with computers and a study lounge, mentoring services, and early registration. Athletes also participate in community outreach programs.
Youngstown State’s nickname, the Penguins, dates back to 1933, although there are two accounts of how the nickname came to be. The first claims that on a very cold night spectators at a basketball game witnessed the athletes stomping the floor and trying to keep warm. The name, then, was a natural fit. The second account claims that basketball team members came up with the names themselves while pushing their cars through a foot-deep snowfall on the way to a game in West Liberty. Regardless of its origin, the name hast stuck for more than 70 years.
Youngstown State University is approximately 70 miles from both Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and their museums and attractions. Near-by attractions include trails and boating at Mill Creek Park, the Butler Institute of American Art, an interactive zoo in an animal sanctuary, and activities at the annual Canfield Fair. There are several local museums and venues for musical or dramatic performances.
Youngstown has a population of more than 80,000. The town was named for a settler who landed there in 1796 and was originally owned by the Connecticut Land Company. Currently, attractions include Powers Auditorium, a symphony orchestra, the Butler Institute of American Art, and the Museum of Industry and Labor. Youngstown is also home to an abundant number of nature trails and outdoor activities.
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