Ohio University, a public university in Athens, Ohio, is an institution not commonly considered by out-of-state students, but it is a stunningly beautiful campus filled with red brick and green grass, and it's very approachable for most students. 16.6% of the students who matriculated in the fall of 2021 were from out of state and it's an institutional priority to raise that number. Although there are 20000 undergraduates on campus, less than 7% of classes at Ohio University have over 100 students. In fact, the average class size is 32. The freshman retention rate is 81% and Ohio U is considered a #1 Best Value Public University in Ohio by US News and World Report. Journalism, film, business and nursing are all very strong here and the NCLEX pass rate is between 90 and 95% every year. Nursing is not direct admit, and they are looking for 4 years of math and 3 to 4 years of science for pre-nursing applicants. For engineering, they are looking for students to have taken chemistry or physics as well as precalculus. A 3.0 GPA is required for engineering, business, nursing and biological sciences. A lower GPA is fine for other majors. There's a strong sense of community here, a feeling of safety and a lot of access to professors. Athens is the poorest county in Ohio but a very quaint college town, at least on the streets closest to the university. I'm told the local community is very supportive of the Ohio University community and comes out to support campus events.There is a two year housing requirement, and OU is only 7% Greek. The out-of-state tuition room and board is just over $36K, with merit scholarship potential of up to $6K. The campus feels like a park and smaller than it actually is. An hour and 15 minutes from Columbus airport makes it a very feasible option for students from almost anywhere! This place is a true hidden gem and should be given great consideration, especially for B students on a budget.