Shawnee State University College Portrait
Shawnee State University940 Second Street Portsmouth, OH 45662
(740) 351-4778
Shawnee State University
SSU -- Best Academic Value in Ohio!
Shawnee State University provides one of the best educational values in Ohio, and beyond. Our tuition is among the lowest in the state and is matched by our commitment to academic excellence. Providing more than 80 undergraduate degrees and a growing number of advanced degrees, Shawnee State challenges you to explore new worlds, ideas, and ways of thinking. Located in Portsmouth, Shawnee State enrolls nearly 4600 students and offers modern apartment-style residences. We believe that every student deserves access to quality higher education. We also believe that students come first. At Shawnee State, you will receive personalized attention, with small class sizes and faculty dedicated to your success. Here, you will find an intellectually stimulating community that will provide you with the opportunity to learn more about your fields of study, your future, and even yourself.
Living in the Shawnee Bears Community
SSU -- Focused on Your Success
Shawnee State is focused on your success — providing you with an exceptional college experience academically and socially. We are so committed to your success, in fact, we established a Student Success Center where you can access everything from tutoring and advising to computer labs and placement testing. Here, you will also find unique services to fit your needs including multicultural student affairs, and disability services. Shawnee State is home to the SSU Bears. Our athletics department provides you the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate, intramural and individual recreational or athletic activities. Our University Center, designed with input from students, provides you with spacious lounges, dining area, game room, and student meeting space. The Center also houses key services including student affairs, housing, counseling, career services, financial aid, and student government. Student clubs and organizations, including the student programming board and Greek organizations are also accessible here. Please click on any of the buttons here to learn more about what Shawnee has to offer you.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 4,561 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 4,460 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 2,568 | 58% |
| Men | 1,892 | 42% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 33 | 1% |
| Asian | 15 | <1% |
| African American / Black | 219 | 5% |
| Hispanic | 23 | 1% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 3 | <1% |
| White | 3,739 | 84% |
| Two or More Races | 30 | 1% |
| International | 35 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 363 | 8% |
| Where do SSU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Ohio | 90% |
| Other US States & Territories | 10% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are SSU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 23 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 23% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2009-10 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $19,462
Out-of-State & Other Costs
The cost to attend Shawnee State University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 55% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $4,660. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 64% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $3,681. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2008-2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
SSU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 19 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 88% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 97% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 154 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 45% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 10% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 79% |
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Campus-based Housing
43% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
25% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
Shawnee State is committed to providing a safe educational environment for our campus community. The Department of Public Safety is in the process of transforming the Security Department into a hybrid Police / Security Department. The new department will continue to maintain a 24-hour police and security presence. The transition will give Shawnee State University the ability to provide the safest environment to learn, live, work, and visit. The Security Department maintains a close working relationship with the Portsmouth Police Department. The city police department is located one block west of campus. Finally, the SSU Department of Public Safety works to protect students by continually identifying and addressing safety concerns, educating students regarding methods to protect themselves, and developing emergency plans.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Baccalaureate Colleges--Diverse Fields
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, inclusive
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate with arts & sciences (other dominant fields)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at SSU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 85% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 62% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 15% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 83% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 16% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 46% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 52% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 6% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 96% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 95% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 68% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 59% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 94% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 60% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 81% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 96% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 72% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 63% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 85% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 38% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 78% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 79% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 83% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Shawnee State University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Associate's | 235 |
| Bachelor's | 347 |
| Master's | 16 |
| Total | 598 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 19% |
| Psychology, General | 9% |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 9% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 8% |
| Biology, General | 7% |
| Links to degree programs at Shawnee State University |
|---|
Associate'sBachelor'sMaster's |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 55% four-year success and progress rate means that 55% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 887 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 589 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 53%
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Student Learning at Shawnee State University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
The Office of Assessment improves the quality of your educational experience. The office determines where and how programs succeed in achieving university goals and ensure continuous improvement.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
Shawnee State University recently utilized the ETS Proficiency Profile. This test measures the critical thinking and writing skills of freshmen and seniors.
Freshmen performed “at expected