What Kind of University It Is
Let's start with the basics. University of Akron Main Campus is a public four-year university located in Akron, Ohio, within Summit County, in the city's metropolitan area. It is public, so if your child is an Ohio resident, your child will probably pay less than an out-of-state student. It is worth asking which of the two prices applies to you before comparing any figure with another school.
The Carnegie system, which classifies the country's colleges and universities according to what they do, places it among doctoral institutions with high research activity. That tells you something about the type of school it is: it is not a small community college; it is a university with substantial graduate programs. The highest level it reports offering is the doctorate, although that is a general institutional fact: it does not tell you whether the specific program your child is interested in goes that far. That must be asked program by program.
Carnegie also describes it as primarily nonresidential. This has a precise technical meaning: either fewer than one out of four undergraduate students live in university-owned housing, or fewer than half study full time. The data do not clarify which of the two conditions was met, and this also does not mean there are no residence halls—in fact, there are, as you will see later. If your child will commute from home, what you need to calculate is not a classification label, but the bus, the gas, and the actual travel time. I recommend driving the route on a weekday, at the exact time of your child's classes, before assuming anything about how long it will take.
As for special designations, University of Akron Main Campus is not listed as a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 colleges and universities in this national directory, 138 do carry at least one of those three labels; this one does not. That does not tell you which students it serves or how your child will feel there. If that specific community matters to you, ask directly which cultural centers and student organizations exist today, and speak with someone who already studies there.
A Large School, With Few Latino Students
In fall 2023, University of Akron Main Campus reported a total enrollment of 13,518 students: 11,452 undergraduates and 2,066 graduate students. It is unquestionably a large school, one the government classifies in the band of 10,000 to 19,999 students. Compared with the other 519 selective-admission public four-year schools, its size is among the most common: neither among the giants nor among the small schools.
But a large school does not necessarily have large classes. You need to ask about that directly: how many students are in first-year classes, and how many are in the specific program your child is interested in.
Here is a number that deserves your full attention: among undergraduates, only 4 out of every 100 students identified as Hispanic or Latino. That is a low figure. Compared with 519 similar public four-year schools, University of Akron Main Campus falls in the group's lowest quarter—three out of four similar schools report a higher share of Latino students.
And here I want to be honest with you, without dressing up the number or using it to frighten you: having few Latino students does not make the school bad, just as having many would not make it good. It is simply a fact about who is enrolled. If your child will be one of the few, that does matter to the daily experience and deserves thorough investigation. Ask which student groups exist, what support is available, and, if possible, speak with a Latino student who is already there before deciding. The number I just gave you is for the entire school; it may look different in your child's specific program.
How the Academic Year Is Organized
University of Akron Main Campus organizes its year by semesters: two terms of approximately 15 weeks each. It is the most standard calendar there is, with consistent dates for all students.
The university stated that it accepts credit for AP exams, as well as what IPEDS calls "credit for life experiences"—learning acquired through independent study, adult courses, work experience, a portfolio, prior licenses or certifications, or military or government experience. It also reports accepting credit for military training. And it enrolls high school students in college courses for credit, both within and outside a formal dual-enrollment program.
Here is the hard truth I do not want to hide from you: the university's statement that it accepts AP does not mean it will grant credit for any exam with any score. The report does not say what scores are required or how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits will count toward your child's specific program. Before you budget any savings of time or money based on this, request the equivalency evaluation in writing.
As for the academic offerings: between July 2022 and June 2023, University of Akron Main Campus awarded 2,094 bachelor's degrees across 23 fields of study. It is a broad range of offerings: even the most popular area, business and management, did not account for a large share—only 16 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. Still, 23 recorded fields do not mean 23 distinct programs are actively offered; each field groups several programs, and some may report no degrees that year. Verify by name the exact program your child is interested in.
Regarding group size, the university reports 16 students for each full-time-equivalent instructional staff member. Compared with similar schools, this figure falls in the middle, neither among the lowest nor among the highest. This number does not tell you the actual size of a first-year class; you need to ask directly about that.
The institution also reports structured opportunities worth keeping on your radar: study abroad, undergraduate research, a complete program that can be taken only during evenings or weekends, noncredit developmental education, and teacher-certification preparation pathways, including state approval for initial certification.
Getting In: Who Requires What and Who Says Yes
This is where many families feel the most anxiety, so let's proceed calmly and use the exact numbers.
University of Akron Main Campus does not have open admissions. It reviews several elements before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, it marks three as required: high school GPA, completion of the college-preparatory curriculum the university requires, and an English proficiency exam for anyone who needs one. Other elements are not required but are considered if you submit them: the complete high school record, a personal essay, letters of recommendation, a sample of what your child can do, work experience, and whether a family member studied there.
On that last point, I want to be clear: if no one in your family attended Akron, do not spend energy worrying about it. Spend it on what is within your child's control.
The undergraduate application fee is $50.
Now, the number people ask about most: how difficult is it to get in? In the 2023 cycle, University of Akron Main Campus received 14,982 applications and offered admission to 10,624 students. That is 71 out of every 100. Compared with 519 similar public schools, it is on the lower side for acceptance—seven out of ten similar schools accept a higher percentage of their applicants. But viewed another way: these are thousands of applications, and even so, 71 out of every 100 receive a yes. Your child has a real reason to apply and also a reason to assemble the complete application and submit it on time. Still, remember that this percentage is from a single cycle, not a fixed rule at the institution. When it is your child's turn, check the updated number again.
Here is a fact many families do not know and that is worth understanding clearly: out of every 100 admitted students, only 20 ultimately enrolled. The other 80 had a place and did not take it. Do not read that as a mark against the school—the federal record does not say why each person made that decision. What I can tell you is this: what others decided does not predict what you will be offered. Wait for your letter with the actual net price before deciding whether this school stays on the list.
Regarding standardized tests, the SAT and ACT are not required. Among the students who enrolled, 20 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores, and among those students, the middle half scored between 480 and 590 in reading and writing and between 470 and 600 in mathematics. That range is not a minimum your child must reach or a guarantee of anything: it is simply what was reported by those who chose to submit scores.
And regarding transfers: of the bachelor's-degree-seeking cohort that entered in 2017, 24 out of every 100 transferred to another institution without completing a degree there. At the same time, in fall 2023, 429 new students arrived after transferring from another school—a high number. Changing universities is not failing. If your child might transfer at some point, it is helpful to know in advance how to request the paperwork, and you should ask in writing, with a course list in hand, which credits would be recognized.
What It Really Costs
At University of Akron Main Campus, among 414 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $12,469. Among 218 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $14,771; among 232 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $19,698. For dependent students, the band combines their parents' income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income band (414 students) and the highest-income band (232 students) is $7,229. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship, the average was $15,292.
$12,469 was the average net price for the lowest-income families in academic year 2022-23. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you determine whether it is worth requesting the aid letter.
The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at this public institution, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average for grant or scholarship recipients, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships; it also uses that rate. If your family lives out of state or out of district, the calculation is different. Ask about it before applying.
How It Is Paid: Grants, Loans, and Options
Out of every 100 degree-seeking students at University of Akron Main Campus, 78 received a grant or other aid that does not have to be repaid, with an annual average of $8,691 among those who received it. The Pell Grant, which is federal aid specifically for low-income families, went to 32 out of every 100 students.
Here is a distinction that will save you confusion when you read your own letter: these two figures do not use the same comparison group. The 78% is calculated across all degree-seeking students; the $8,691 average is calculated only across those who actually received something. When your aid letter arrives, separate it by hand into three piles: what does not have to be repaid, what must be repaid with interest, and what must be earned through work. Many letters mix them all together in a single column, and that is where families become confused.
Regarding loans, 35 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal loan in 2022-23, with an average amount of $6,276 among those who borrowed. This figure covers only federal loans in the student's name for one year—it does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, debt owed to banks, or the total debt accumulated by graduation. This percentage does not determine which of the two groups—with a loan or without one—your child will fall into. The specific financial aid letter your child receives determines that.
The university also reports a guaranteed tuition plan and an installment payment plan for families that need to manage the cost in another way.
Campus Life, Learning Format, and Support
University of Akron Main Campus does have its own housing, with reported capacity for 2,485 students on or off campus. It does not require all first-time students to live there—that rules out a universal requirement but does not mean a specific program cannot require it. It also offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies according to the plan selected. Before removing housing and food from the family budget, request in writing this year's exact rate, the deadline for requesting a room, and whether your child is guaranteed a place or will go onto a waiting list.
Regarding ROTC, the university reported two available branches: Army and Air Force. Navy is not marked. Its appearance in the report does not mean the program is specifically taught on this campus or that acceptance is guaranteed; ask about it by name if it is a path your child is interested in.
Regarding sports, it does compete at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NCAA, with reported membership in football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. If your child wants to pursue that path, the membership belongs to the school, not to your child: your child needs to write directly to the coach of the specific sport and ask about roster availability, division, and whether a scholarship is available.
In terms of learning format, the university offers distance education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Out of every 100 undergraduate students, 11 took their entire course load completely through distance education, while the other 89 took at least one in-person class. It also reports at least one complete program available through distance education, although the data do not confirm the specific level.
The library operates with hired staff, annual spending above the $100,000 threshold recorded by the government, physical and digital materials, and interlibrary lending. Reported support services include combined academic and career counseling, employment services, on-campus child care, a transition program for students with intellectual disabilities, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program for veterans, and a dedicated point of contact for military families.
What Happens to Students Once They Are Enrolled
For me, this is the section that should matter most to you, because it tells you how students who have already been there fared.
Of the full-time cohort that entered in fall 2022, 73 out of every 100 were still enrolled at the university or had already graduated one year later. It is a decent number, although it falls slightly below the midpoint of the similar schools compared. Among part-time students from that same fall, retention was much lower: 39 out of every 100. These are two different groups with different circumstances; if your child will enroll part time, the relevant number is that one, not the full-time number.
Regarding graduation, of the students who entered full time in 2017, 53 out of every 100 had graduated from this university within six years. Within four years, the figure was only 29 out of every 100—24 points lower. And that detail matters a great deal because four years is the timeframe most families have budgeted for. Before deciding, ask what concrete support is available for finishing on time and how long the specific program your child is interested in actually tends to take, because every additional semester has a real cost.
There is one final figure I want to give you without softening it, because I believe you deserve the complete picture. Looking at outcomes after eight years for a broader cohort that entered in 2015-16, 51 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this institution. But within that same group, among students who received a Pell Grant—that is, students from lower-income families—only 40 out of every 100 did so. That is 19 points lower than among those who did not receive Pell. It is a real gap, and the report does not explain why it exists. If your family would qualify for Pell, this is exactly the question worth taking to the admissions office: what specifically is available for those students—an assigned adviser, emergency aid, annual renewal of internal scholarships—and ask for the answer in writing.
What Comes Next
You now have an in-depth understanding of one of the three pieces you need to decide: what this university is, what it really costs, how accessible admission is, and what has happened to students who have already been there. None of these numbers decides anything by itself, and none predicts what will happen to your child in particular.
Now you need to combine this with what your child wants to study, what your child has already built in high school, and what your family can and is willing to pay. A real plan comes from that combination—not from this piece alone. Your child's role is the effort, curiosity, and decisions within the process. Your role is the money, the documents, the dates, and providing support without carrying the entire system alone. You do not go through the process for your child. You go through it with your child.
Note on sources: The information in this article comes from official data reported by University of Akron Main Campus to the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS system, primarily from the years 2022-23 and 2023-24, as indicated with each figure. Best College Aid does not represent University of Akron Main Campus or the federal government, and this article does not replace information the university may provide directly about your particular situation.