Why Ohio Northern University?
Ohio Northern University's Pettit College of Law emphasizes practical, hands-on legal training with a guaranteed 100% placement in clinics and externships, fostering a close-knit community and offering a unique online JD program.
Ohio Northern University is a broadly accessible JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 59.4%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.34 GPA and 148 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.06–3.67 GPA and 146–151 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 62 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Ohio, Indiana, and Washington, DC — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the most recent older reporting cycle, Ohio Northern University admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- Unranked
- Not numerically ranked by US News
- Median GPA
- 3.34
- 25th–75th: 3.06–3.67
- Median LSAT
- 148
- 25th–75th: 146–151
- Acceptance rate
- 59.4%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 62
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 0
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
Top employment markets
- 1Ohio
- 2Indiana
- 3Washington, DC
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define Ohio Northern University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Ohio Northern University" essay where they align with your interests.
- ONU Litigation ClinicRepresents clients in civil litigation matters such as family law, housing, expungements, and social security disability.
- Corporate Transactional ClinicAssists with tax-exempt status filing, drafting bylaws and articles of incorporation, and representing non-profits and churches.
- Public Defender PlacementProvides students with experience in criminal defense through externship opportunities.
- Prosecution PlacementOffers hands-on experience in criminal prosecution through externship opportunities.
- Judicial PlacementAllows students to work with judges, aiding in research, writing, and court-related duties.
- Environmental PlacementEngages students in research and drafting pleadings related to environmental law, often with non-profit advocacy groups.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Ohio Northern University Law Review— Publishes leading articles on current legal issues by scholars, judges, and practitioners, along with student comments.
- Ohio Northern University International Law Journal— Covers a variety of international issues and topics in both private and public international law.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
- Charles Rose IIITrial Advocacy, Evidence, Criminal Procedure, Military Law
- Donald AndersonCriminal Defense, Civil Trial Litigation, Advocacy
- H. Beau BaezFederal Income Tax, Business Entities Income Tax, State & Local Tax
- Kimberly BreedonWills & Estates, Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, Legislation & Statutory Interpretation
- Bryan WardCriminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Bankruptcy, Commercial Litigation
- Deidré KellerProperty, Contracts, Intellectual Property, Pedagogy
- Allison MittendorfLegal Research and Writing, Insurance Defense, Property Rights
- David CragoLegal Education, Administration
- Kelly StevensFamily Law, Bar Preparation
- Stephen ShawExternship Direction, Appellate Law, Prosecution
What makes Ohio Northern University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Offers one of the country's only entirely online, part-time, ABA-accredited Juris Doctor programs.
- ·Guarantees 100% placement in clinics and externships for all students.
- ·Features an Academic and Bar Success Program, including a Summer Starter Program, to support student success.
- ·Offers an LL.M. in Democratic Governance and Rule of Law, attracting international lawyers.
- ·Employs a 'Tell, Show, Do' approach to legal education, emphasizing progressive, skills-based learning.
- ·Maintains a low student-faculty ratio (15:1) for personalized attention and small class sizes.
Using this for your "Why Ohio Northern University" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about Ohio Northern University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Ohio Northern University?▾
Ohio Northern University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.34 and a median LSAT of 148. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.06–3.67 GPA and 146–151 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Ohio Northern University's acceptance rate?▾
Ohio Northern University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 59.4%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Ohio Northern University offer?▾
Ohio Northern University's notable clinical programs include: ONU Litigation Clinic, Corporate Transactional Clinic, Public Defender Placement, Prosecution Placement, Judicial Placement. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Ohio Northern University publish?▾
Ohio Northern University's notable student-edited journals include: Ohio Northern University Law Review, Ohio Northern University International Law Journal.
Where do Ohio Northern University graduates work?▾
Ohio Northern University graduates concentrate employment in Ohio, Indiana, Washington, DC, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
Schools similar to Ohio Northern University
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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Try Case Cub free →Sources (6) — verify any fact above
- https://law.onu.edu/academics/law-clinics-and-externship-program
- https://law.onu.edu/academics/law-review-and-other-publications
- https://law.onu.edu/faculty
- https://law.onu.edu/academics/certificate-tracks
- https://law.onu.edu/academics/online-jd-program
- https://law.onu.edu/about
Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.