About JCU
Founded in 1886, ¾«¶«AV is a top-ranked, private liberal arts institution located in University Heights, Ohio. Committed to fostering intellectual growth, leadership, and service, JCU offers a transformative education that prepares students to be more and do more for the world.
Degree Programs
70+ majors, minors, concentrations, and accelerated graduate programs are available through ¾«¶«AV's , , and College of Health.
Enrollment
- Undergraduate students: 2,340
- Graduate students: 510
- Students from 30 States and 20 Countries
- Average class size: 21
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1
- 25% First Generation Students (Class of 2028)
Alumni
- 45,000 alumni
- 500+ businesses in Northeast Ohio are owned or led by JCU alumni
- 43 alum work in the NFL
- Alumni Mentoring Network: Undergraduate students are offered support through the award-winning ¾«¶«AV Mentoring Network –an online database with direct access to hundreds of alumni mentors from a wide range of career paths who are eager to offer their insight and experience
Student Life
- 100+ student clubs and organizations
- 13 club sports
- 6 on-campus dining locations
- 7 residence halls
- 91% of our students report that living on campus contributes to their sense of belonging
- 4 national sororities and 2 national fraternities
- 138,000+ service hours completed annually
- Ranked #12 in the country for Community Engagement -The Princeton Review (2024)
- 13 multicultural student organizations
- 12 Carroll Faith Communities
Study Abroad
- Approximately 100 students study abroad each year
- 45+ study abroad/exchange programs are offered each year
- Experiences take place on five continents in locations such as France, England, Spain, Japan, and Italy
Athletics
- 24 NCAA Division III Varsity Teams
- 13 Club Sports
- 20 intramural sports leagues and tournaments
- 100+ DIII All-Americans
- In 2025, JCU will join the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC)
Professional Development
- 100% of students have access to professional development opportunities on campus
- 90% of students complete two or more high-impact experiences, which include internships, research, study abroad, service-learning, and student employment
Booming Business
Cleveland is home to fast-rising startups, numerous Fortune 500 companies, government, academic, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations. JCU connects students to world-class research and internship experience in biomedical experimentation, healthcare, IT, educational outreach, marketing, and autism research. We also have a special partnership with the renowned Cleveland Clinic.
For and With Others
We coordinate opportunities for students to serve those in need, partnering with organizations that actively address issues of food and hunger, early childhood development, education, and domestic violence prevention.
Arts & Culture
Located on the shores of Lake Erie, Cleveland is the heart of a thriving metropolitan area. Home to the , the , the , a number of theatre ensembles, including the and , dance companies, and a thriving film scene, Cleveland is a cultural magnet. Its lively theatre district at is the country’s largest performing arts complex outside of New York City. Cleveland is also a sports town, with Major League Baseball (The Cleveland Guardians), NFL Football (the Cleveland Browns), and NBA Basketball (the Cleveland Cavaliers).
Parks & Recreation
Cleveland has a large city park system in the U.S. and offers picnicking, hiking, bike trails, horseback riding, winter sports, and more. The , located between Cleveland and Akron, features a wide variety of natural, cultural, and historical resources.
Active Alumni
Rankings
- Ranked as one of The Princeton Review’s Best 390 Colleges (2024)
- The Wall Street Journal ranked JCU in the Top 7% of 4-Year Institutions in the US.
- Fortune’s Best MBA Programs for 2025
- #1 in Northeast Ohio
- #4 in Ohio
- #77 in the Nation