Unlike other state university systems outside Ohio such as the University of California System, Ohio's university system operates without blanket names of its members or de jureflagship institutions. Instead, each member markets itself along its own perceived excellences.
The system includes all of Ohio's public institutions of higher education: 14 four-year research universities, 24 branch and regional campuses, 23 community colleges and technical colleges, and 13 graduate schools, seven medical schools, six law schools, and ten business schools within campuses. Additionally, some campuses offer Adult Workforce Education (AWE) and Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) programs. The AWE and ABLE programs were transferred from the Ohio Department of Education to the Ohio Board of Regents in 2009 to provide a flexible system of higher education that will improve services while reducing costs to students. The total annual enrollment of University System of Ohio institutions was over 526,003 as of 2020.[2]
The University System of Ohio was unified under GovernorTed Strickland in 2007.[3] In 2008, Chancellor Eric Fingerhut proposed creating common academic calendars for all of the system's universities: the goal was to simplify transfer between institutions and allow students to be recruited at the same time for jobs and internships.[4] After spending more than $26 million starting in 2008, the transition was completed by the 2012 academic year.[5]
Central State, Cleveland State, NEOMED, Shawnee State, Toledo, and Youngstown State do not have regional campuses, although Youngstown State is considering a satellite campus in Steubenville, Ohio due to financial difficulties with Eastern Gateway Community College.[6]
