AIɫɫ

In the 2025 classifications released by the Carnegie Commission for Higher Education, AIɫɫ is the only open access public university in Ohio to be named an Opportunity College and University, a recognition of its work in fostering student success and guiding students toward a path to earning higher wages after graduation.

“Being classified as an Opportunity College and University is an external verifier of the deeply held mission of AIɫɫ to provide access to college to the people of south-central Ohio and the opportunity for increased lifelong earnings that improve both personal and community outcomes,” said Dr. Kimberly Inman, SSU Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs.

AIɫɫ State is one of only two Ohio four-year public institutions to receive this classification – and the only one serving a unique open access mission – after Carnegie studied the number of students qualifying for federal grant assistance at SSU and their ability to receive competitive wages after graduation. The Opportunity College and University designation is a further reflection of the university’s commitment to preparing students for successful careers in competitive, in-demand fields. The classification further promotes SSU’s ranking as a Top Performer on Social Mobility by the U.S. News & World Report – an indication of how the university’s graduates are using their degrees to significantly increase their family income, often moving from low-income ranges to the top 40 percent of income earners. 

Also classified by Carnegie as a Professions-Focused Baccalaureate Institution, AIɫɫ State is committed to providing every student, regardless of major, an opportunity to receive hands-on experiential learning through clinicals, internships, and unique practicums. With regional partners, SSU students are learning and applying techniques outside of the classroom to gain a competitive advantage in their chosen career field. 

“The recent Carnegie Classification of AIɫɫ as a Professions-focused Baccalaureate institution reflects that over 64% of SSU graduates earn Bachelor’s degrees linked to particular career sectors including health professions, business, engineering technologies, education, and biological sciences,” said Dr. Inman.

The Carnegie Classification is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education. In 1970, the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education began developing a classification of colleges and universities to support its program of research and policy analysis. The framework was first published in 1973 and is now updated every 3 years to reflect changes among colleges and universities.