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About BW

About BW

Baldwin Wallace University is an independent, liberal arts & sciences university located in Berea, Ohio, offering bachelor's and master's degrees, certificates and professional education programs.

Mission Statement

Baldwin Wallace University strives to fulfill its enduring purpose by being a diverse, innovative, and caring educational community that empowers and accompanies each individual as they realize their potential for a life well-lived.

A welcoming, supportive community...It's in BW's DNA

In 1845, more than 15 years before the Civil War, Baldwin Wallace was founded as one of the first colleges in the nation to admit students without regard to race or gender. Today, you'll find that spirit of inclusiveness has flourished and evolved into a personalized approach to education: one that fosters your individual growth as you learn to learn, experience new ideas and prepare for the certainty of change.

City or suburb?...You get the best of both worlds

You don't have to choose between suburb and city. Our location, in an historic, residential community with miles of recreational parkland, is just 20 minutes from the thriving business and cultural center of Cleveland. It's the perfect environment to facilitate liberal arts learning and practical career preparation, providing easy access to internships and field experiences for almost every interest.

Small classes, big opportunities...The right size for your success

As a BW student, you'll be empowered to take initiative and take advantage of many opportunities to succeed. You'll find small class sizes with supportive teaching-faculty who act as mentors, and you'll enjoy access to regional business and thought leaders. In addition, you can choose from a vast array of hands-on experiential learning options from undergraduate research and creative projects, to exciting service-learning and study abroad options, to field experiences, internships and leadership training.

Liberal arts and sciences, plus professional skills, prepare for career agility

After more than 175 years, BW is still characterized by leadership and innovation in education. Through a foundation of arts and sciences, students learn how to think critically and communicate effectively. BW's majors build on that crucial foundation, with many leading-edge programs that develop tangible professional skills and career options that match your academic passion. Distinctive opportunities to add entrepreneurship and innovation skills, and experiential learning to your educational resume give you an additional edge as you move from BW into your career.


FAST FACTS

(Data from September 5, 2023)

Founded

1845

Academic Term

Semester

Faculty

225 full-time faculty

Student/Faculty Ratio

11-to-1

Students (Fall 2023)

Total Enrollment: 3,327

Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,794

  • Full-time undergraduates: 2,695
    (includes 298 Conservatory of Performing Arts students)
  • Part-time undergraduates: 99

Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 532


First-Year Student Profile (Fall 2023)

Total students

730

Gender

51% female, 49% male

Race/ethnicity

  • 23% students of color
  • 9% Hispanic/Latino
  • 6% African-American
  • 6% Multiracial
  • 2% Asian

First-generation

30%

Geographic diversity

  • 21% from outside Ohio
  • Top states represented: Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Florida, Texas
  • 28 total states represented

First-year on-campus residents

72%

Academic interests

  • Business: 21%
  • Science and Technology: 18%
  • Performing Arts: 17%
  • Social Sciences and Humanities: 17%
  • Health: 15%
  • Interdisciplinary: 7%
  • Education: 5%

Academic preparation

  • High School GPA: 3.77
  • SAT (verbal + math): 1167
  • ACT (composite): 24

Athletics

  • 28 Division III Intercollegiate programs
  • 1 in 4 undergraduates are student-athletes

Tuition and Fees

View tuition and fees for BW's undergraduate and graduate programs.

Academic Structure

Majors and Programs

  • Undergraduate - more than 85 programs of study
  • Post-baccalaureate - An accelerated bachelor's degree in nursing (ABSN)
  • Graduate - Master's degree programs in the following areas:
    • Business: master of business administration (MBA) and master of accountancy (MAcc)
    • Education: master of arts in education (MAEd) and leadership in higher education (LHE)
    • Health Sciences: clinical mental health counseling (CMHC), physician assistant (PA), public health (MPH) and speech-language pathology (SLP)
  • Professional and continuing education - Certificates and professional development opportunities. Convenient evening and weekend programs.

Accreditation

Baldwin Wallace University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a commission of the North Central Association. Individual programs at BW have also earned accreditation. View all accreditations >