About Youngstown State University
We are committed to academic excellence and to helping you reach your highest potential.
History of Youngstown State University
Founded in 1908 as a single commercial law course offered by the local YMCA, YSU is an American research university located in Youngstown, Ohio. Currently offering over 155 undergraduate programs and over 40 graduate programs, the University matriculates nearly 13,000 students.
Our Vision
Youngstown State University will become a national model for university-community engagement that enhances teaching and learning, student and faculty research, and community well-being. The University will expand its regionally focused mission to include national and international emphases while working with other colleges and universities, business and industry, and the K-12 community to stimulate the economic, technological and cultural rebirth of Ohio.
This Vision will be supported by:
- Leading scholars and practitioners using multidisciplinary approaches to address societal challenges;
- Engagement of undergraduate and graduate students in research;
- Strategic development of undergraduate and graduate programs;
- Curricular and co-curricular integration of professional and liberal education, problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills;
- An emphasis on applied learning and community engagement; and
- Respect for the deep and rich diversity of the communities we serve.
Our Mission
Youngstown State University—an urban research university—emphasizes a creative, integrated approach to education, scholarship and service. The University places students at its center; leads in the discovery, dissemination and application of knowledge; advances civic, scientific and technological development; and fosters collaboration to enrich the region and the world.
The University:
- Creates diverse educational experiences that develop ethical, intellectually curious students who are invested in their communities;
- Provides access to a broad range of undergraduate programs;
- Offers graduate programs in selected areas of excellence, including those that meet the needs of the region;
- Supports economic development through applied learning and research;
- Integrates teaching and learning, scholarship, and civic engagement;
- Fosters understanding of diversity, sustainability, and global perspectives; and
- Advances the intellectual and cultural life of the city, region and world.
