Quick facts and figures

Locations

UA offers courses across the region and via distance learning:

International and National Rankings

Accreditation

Carnegie Basic Classification

  • Main Campus RU/H: Research Universities (high research activity)
  • Wayne College Assoc/Pub2in4: Associate's -- Public 2-yr colleges under 4-yr universities
  • Carnegie Foundation

Brief historical timeline of the University

  • 1870: The institution now known as The University of Akron was founded as Buchtel College by the Ohio Universalist Convention
  • 1872: Buchtel College opened its doors to 46 collegiate students, 171 preparatory students and seven faculty members
  • 1873: Buchtel College produces the first graduate
  • 1880: The first master's degree was awarded
  • 1913: Trustees transfer Buchtel College's assets to the city of Akron, creating the Municipal University of Akron
  • 1926: Trustees change the institution's name to The University of Akron
  • 1959: The University's first doctoral degree was awarded, in polymer science. In so doing, Akron became the fifth Ohio university to offer doctoral work, following Ohio State, Western Reserve, Case and Cincinnati
  • 1967: On July 1, The University of Akron became one of the Ohio's state universities
  • 1999: The New Landscape for Learning campus development initiative was launched
  • 2004: First phase of the New Landscape for Learning campus enhancement program was completed, resulting in 9 new buildings, 14 major renovations and 30 acres of fresh green space
  • 2005: Honors College was created
  • Zips football team won its first Mid-American Conference Championship in school history and got its first Division IA bowl bid
  • 2007: New Landscape for Learning building program continues with addition of 15th residence hall and announcement that UA would build its first on-campus football stadium
  • On April 4, the official groundbreaking celebration was held for InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field
  • 2009: UA opens InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field to a sellout crowd. The Zips win, besting Morgan State 41-0.
  • Fall enrollment increases 7.6 percent. Between 2005-09, UA enrollment increased 23 percent. To accommodate graduates, a fourth Commencement ceremony is added in the spring.
  • 2010: UA is named an Ohio Center of Excellence in two areas: (1) biomedicine and health care, and (2) enabling technologies: advanced materials and sensors.
  • 2011: The University and The Timken Company announce a novel open-innovation agreement Aug 25 to accelerate technology development by combining their expertise in materials and surface engineering in new laboratories in the College of Engineering.
  • 2011: The University breaks ground for a $14.8 million research facility that will house the National Center for Education and Research in Corrosion and Materials Performance. Joining in the effort are the U.S. Departments of Defense and Energy, Ohio companies and foundations.
  • 2016: Dr. Gary and Pamela Williams Honors College named in February, in recognition of $3 million bequest to Honors College. The Williams, who are alumni, have made lifetime bequests to the University exceeding $10 million.
  • 2016: Business student Clayton Murphy wins the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Rio.
  • 2020: The University celebrates the 150th anniversary of its founding. On Oct. 10, thousands of UA alumni and friends around the world joined for a celebration held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 2022: The University was named No. 1 in the world for polymer science and plastics engineering, according to the global ranking site EduRank. The ranking methodology factored in research performance, non-academic prominence, including backlinks to a university from other sites, and an alumni score.
  • 2024: UA swimmer Grace Nuhfer, a business data analytics major, wins silver medal for the U.S. at the Paralympic Games

orange-triangle See a more complete history of the University.