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College Profile: Miami University (Miami of Ohio)
- katspitzer
- Feb 5
- 2 min read
Located in Oxford, Ohio, Miami University (often called Miami of Ohio) is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected public universities. With a beautiful red-brick campus, rich history, and vibrant student life, Miami offers a classic college experience with opportunities for real growth and success. I have visited this school a couple of times and have found the students to be active, enthusiastic, and truly engaged with campus life.
History:
Miami University was officially chartered in 1809 and welcomed its first students in 1824, making it the second-oldest public university in Ohio and one of the ten oldest in the United States.
The university was made possible by a law signed in 1795 by President George Washington before Ohio was even a state.
Miami was once nicknamed the “Yale of the West” due to its ambitious liberal arts curriculum early in its history.
Notable alumni include Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States.
William Holmes McGuffey, a professor at Miami in the 1830s, wrote the famous McGuffey Readers, textbooks that educated generations of students nationwide.
Fun Facts & Campus Traditions:
Rub for Luck - Turtle Heads: The Tri-Delt Sundial turtles are a campus landmark. Students rub their heads for good luck, especially before exams!
Don’t Step on the Seal: Keep your footing! Tradition holds that stepping on the university seal at the Hub might bring bad luck, so most students avoid it.
Upham Hall Arch - Kiss for Love: Legend says sharing a kiss under the Upham Arch with your true love means a lasting bond, and many couples do just that.
Miami Mergers: Miami has a high rate of alumni marrying each other, known as Miami Mergers, and the university even sends Valentine’s cards to these couples each year!
Broomball & Ice Life: Students love playing broomball on campus. It’s a fun and social winter activity at the university’s ice facilities.
Cradle of Coaches: Miami is famous as the “Cradle of Coaches.” Many legendary football coaches began their careers or graduated from Miami.
Charter Day Ball: Every three years the Miami community celebrates its founding with the Charter Day Ball, a lively celebration with music and dancing.
Greek Life Legacy: Miami earned the nickname “Mother of Fraternities” because four national fraternities were founded on campus. Today, more than 50 Greek organizations are active at Miami.
Student Life & Statistics:
Enrollment (Fall 2024)
~16,800+ undergraduates on the Oxford campus
>2,000 graduate students
~3,600+ students on regional campuses (Hamilton, Middletown, West Chester)
Admissions Snapshot (Fall 2025 Admit Profile)
Admit rate: 70.4%
Gender: ~43.8% male, 56.2% female
Domestic Students of Color: ~22.5%
GPA range (middle 50%): 3.62–4.22
SAT middle 50%: ~1220–1390
ACT middle 50%: ~25–31
Geographic & Cultural Diversity
Students come from all 50 U.S. states and more than 100 countries, making Miami a truly global community.
Rankings & Recognition:
Ranked No. 2 among national public universities for excellence in undergraduate teaching
Top rankings for internships and career outcomes
High return on investment rankings among Ohio public universities
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