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Portsmouth , OH
Shawnee State University is a public university located in Portsmouth, Ohio. Established in 1986, it is one of Ohio's regional state universities and provides high-quality academic programs for students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees. With its beautiful campus situated in the Ohio River Valley, Shawnee State offers a picturesque setting that enhances the learning experience for its students.
The university boasts a wide range of academic disciplines, including arts and sciences, business administration, education, engineering technology, health sciences, and social sciences. With over 80 different programs of study, students have the opportunity to explore diverse interests and find their passion. Faculty at Shawnee State are dedicated to their students' success and provide personalized attention to help them excel in their chosen field.
Shawnee State University provides a welcoming and inclusive community that fosters a sense of belonging and encourages students to get involved on campus. The university offers various clubs, organizations, and athletic programs to cater to students' diverse interests and help them develop skills outside the classroom. The campus also hosts cultural events, guest speakers, and workshops, providing valuable opportunities for personal and professional growth. Students at Shawnee State not only receive a top-notch education but also a well-rounded college experience that prepares them for future success.
Located in Portsmouth, OH, Shawnee State University is a public comprehensive higher education institution. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 81%. The freshman retention rate at Shawnee State University is 72% and the six-year graduation rate is 54%.
Find out more about what you can expect if you get into Shawnee State University.
Quick Facts
2,994
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
54%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Here are the most important information you have to know about admission policy and requirements at Shawnee State University.
In 2025, the school accepted 2,488 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively noncompetitive.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.42. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Shawnee State University was 72%, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 54%.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the optimal match for you is not easy. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 3,231 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 11% for that year. There was a total of 2,994 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 59 international students. 134 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 868 male and 1,208 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 15, and the number of African American students was 88. 5 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 44 as multirace. The school also had 1 student who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 26 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 1,123 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Shawnee State University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Shawnee State University? Here is what you need to know.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $10,166. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $17,080. Tuition costs at Shawnee State University for international students were $17,080.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $17,080 | Not Available | $ 17,080 |
| In-State | $10,166 | Not Available | $10,166 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to spend about $1,024 for books and supplies during their time at Shawnee State University.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Shawnee State University amounted to $12,832 a year. If you only wanted a dorm room, you had to pay $7,908 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $5,992.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 10,166 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,832 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,024 |
| Total Expense | $ 24,022 |
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Shawnee State University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 592 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $8,972.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 1,417 students who obtained need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 1,900. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $7,992,769, and state $1,846,921. The students of Shawnee State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $2,407,727, and external in the amount of $915,862.
$3,875
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 665 students overall (including freshmen) at Shawnee State University in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 310 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $554,464. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $163,386 USD.
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at Shawnee State University was 16:1. That means that there were 16 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 290 teachers at this school. Out of that number, there were 129 men and 161 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Shawnee State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Shawnee State University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at Shawnee State University.
It has a campus size of 62 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
According to recently gathered data, there are 126 open-membership organizations at Shawnee State University. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. The most popular student organization is SSU Pool Club, followed by Theatre and Musicals Club and Intramurals. Other popular organizations among the students at Shawnee State University are Esports and Circle K International.
Interested in media and communication? Shawnee State University publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
Shawnee State University offers a number of services necessary for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Shawnee State University.
All in all, campus life at Shawnee State University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
FAQ
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Shawnee State University is located in Portsmouth, OH.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Shawnee State University is 81%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Shawnee State University is 72%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
