Retention at Ohio University climbed again after reaching its highest retention rate in 20 years

September 10, 2025

Retention at Ohio University climbed again after reaching its highest retention rate in 20 years

Ohio University saw increasing enrollments in 2025.

Serena Fahnbulleh Crain

About

5 min read

Enrollment reached 30,682 students, fueled by record first-year enrollment, improved retention, and expanding online programs.

New students represent all 88 Ohio counties, all 50 states, and 100 countries, highlighting OHIO’s broad and growing draw.

Student retention efforts are supported by Persistence Plus' work with OHIO through the MyOHIO Advice platform.

Ohio University announced that total enrollment has surpassed 30,000 students, marking a 3.6% year-over-year increase and continuing a strong upward trend. This fall brought in 8,195 new students across campuses and OHIO Online — including the University’s largest and highest-achieving first-year class ever. Strong retention, statewide reach, and growing online enrollment are driving the momentum, reflecting OHIO’s commitment to student success and career-ready experiences.

Read the full article here.

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Serena Fahnbulleh Crain

Senior Director of Partner Success

Serena oversees Persistence Plus’s partnerships, collaborating with college administrators and staff at Ohio University, Stark State, and others to increase student success and retention across settings, contexts, and student populations. She frequently presents to college audiences and she has led workshops about addressing student challenges using behavioral science since 2017. A former admissions director at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, she received her Master’s of Science in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.