Positive growth.
That’s the outlook on current and future enrollment following the release of Ƶ’s 15-day report, which locks in enrollment numbers for the spring semester based on the preponderant headcount on the 15th day of the term.
“We are thrilled to see such a strong increase in our enrollment numbers this spring,” said Sean Broghammer, vice president for Enrollment Management. “This growth is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff and the entire Ƶ State community. Our commitment to providing a high-quality education and a supportive environment for our students continues to attract more outstanding students to our university.”
Student enrollment reached 31,631, a 1.3% increase across Ƶ State’s eight-campus system compared to the previous spring semester. This translates to an additional 412 students, including 184 students at the Ƶ Campus and 224 students at the Regional Campuses.
This follows strong fall enrollment levels when the university welcomed its largest class of first-year students to the Ƶ Campus since before the pandemic.
Ƶ State was a popular choice for new students for fall semester, with the university receiving a total of 28,000 applications, which represents a 9% increase.
These enrollment gains follow the university’s recognition for its excellence in online education, with three programs earning high marks in the Top 100 in U.S. News & World Report’s newly released 2025 Best Online Programs rankings. Ƶ State’s online programs have been ranked among the best in the nation, reflecting Ƶ State’s commitment to providing high-quality, accessible education.
Ƶ State’s affordability fuels its increasing enrollment and strong retention of returning students. The university was recently ranked as the No. 1 most affordable college in Ohio by Money.com.
Creating opportunities to grow enrollment was also part of Ƶ State President Todd Diacon’s recent address to the Greater Akron Chamber, where he highlighted the university’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, efficiency, student well-being and community partnership, reinforcing its role as a vital institution in the region.
“Ƶ is a university, not just for the fortunate few, but for the meritorious many,” Diacon said. "We’ve just become more efficient and effective.”
The value of a college degree was another key topic. Diacon pointed out the long-term benefits of higher education, stating, “All the longitudinal data shows the benefits of having a college degree: $1 million more over your career in income, all levels of happiness indexes, contentment, all of those [go] way up for college graduates versus those who don’t have a college degree.”
Reflecting on his role, Diacon shared his enthusiasm for student engagement, describing first-year student move-in day and commencement as the best days at Ƶ State.
“One of the reasons I have the best job in America is because I’m always around 18-year-olds. So I always feel so young,” he remarked.