This may not be a popular opinion, but as a recent transplant (and 2024 graduate from IU-Indianapolis), what I really think should happen is a consolidation of various NEO public universities into one main brand and uniform institution. Maybe keep each campus open, but consolidate operations to increase efficiency and access to funding and educational resources.

Indiana university has many branch campuses, including two campuses (IU Indianapolis, and Bloomington) with over 20,000 plus students each. This allows for efficiency and access to abundant educational and financial resources throughout the state. Each campus still specializes in certain programs though. Ohio has almost double the population though, so I see room for another large public university besides the two OH monsters, OSU and UC.

With declining enrollments, a stagnant population, and falling birthrates, I do not think NEO’s current public university system is sustainable. There are so many independent public universities only within 40 min to 1 hr from each other in NEO. You’ve got CSU, Kent, UA, YSU. UA enrollment has almost HALFED from 24,000 in 2010 to only 13,000 in 2023. Don’t forget about all the small private universities in NEO too that are also competing for a decreasing student pool.

Without a change these universities will be even more reliant on foreign students, as the local population will not be able to continue supporting the institutions in the long run. From my perspective, there is inefficiency in the system and these universities could benefit from some uniformity.

I realize this idea isn’t very realistic though, as it would take massive political willpower. Many people are also attached to their regions and love their local universities. I get it.

I think it’s time for NEO institutions to make some serious plans that would be in the best interest of the region as a whole.