About the University
The University
As one of the fastest-growing research universities in the United States, Case Western Reserve University is a force in career-defining education and life-changing research. Across the arts and sciences, engineering, health sciences, law, management, and social work, we're a community built to be a force—for discovery, for impact and for good.
Case Western Reserve University
10900 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44106
Brief History
Case Western Reserve University’s origins date back two centuries to 1826, the year of Western Reserve College’s founding.
Originally located in Hudson, Ohio, the college was renamed Western Reserve University in 1884 and moved to what is now University Circle. After adding a new medical school alongside its undergraduate programs, the college found a neighbor in the Case School of Applied Science, an institution founded in 1880 through the bequest of Leonard Case Jr., a leading benefactor and Cleveland civic leader.
The Case School changed names to Case Institute of Technology in 1947 to reflect its growing stature in the sciences and engineering, but this name change was not its last: In 1967, Western Reserve University joined with Case Institute of Technology to form Case Western Reserve University, thus becoming a leading institution for academics and research worthy of national and international distinction.
Today, Case Western Reserve is a top-ranked national research university with approximately 12,000 students, nearly 7,000 faculty and staff members, and more than 128,000 alumni. They learn from and collaborate with faculty members renowned for expertise in medicine, engineering, science, law, management, dental medicine, nursing, social work and the arts.
The university comprises seven schools and a college:
- Case School of Engineering
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
- Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
- School of Dental Medicine
- School of Law
- School of Medicine
- Weatherhead School of Management
To learn more, visit the university’s history page.
University Mission
Case Western Reserve University improves and enriches people’s lives through research that capitalizes on the power of collaboration and education that dramatically engages our students.
We realize this goal through:
- Scholarship and creative endeavor that draws on all forms of inquiry
- Learning that is active, creative and continuous
- Promotion of an inclusive culture of global citizenship
University Vision
We aim to be recognized internationally as an institution that imagines and influences the future.
Toward that end, we will:
- Support advancement of thriving disciplines as well as new areas of interdisciplinary excellence.
- Provide students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary to become leaders in a world characterized by rapid change and increasing interdependence.
- Nurture a community of exceptional scholars who are cooperative and collegial functioning in an atmosphere distinguished by support, mentoring and inclusion.
- Pursue distinctive opportunities to build on our special features including our relationships with world-class healthcare, cultural, educational, and scientific institutions in University Circle and across greater Cleveland.
Cleveland
Ranked as one of the country’s most livable cities, Cleveland, Ohio, is a mid-sized metropolis with a big impact. The city serves as headquarters for many large corporations and is a major banking center, hosting one of 12 Federal Reserve Banks in the United States.
Thriving healthcare and biotechnology industries position Cleveland as a healthcare hub. Here, you’ll find dozens of hospitals and medical centers including Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and the MetroHealth Medical Center, which are internationally recognized for outstanding patient care and contributions to medical research.
Home to more than 4 million people, Northeast Ohio is known for its low cost of living, lively arts and culture scene, and professional sports teams. Extensive dining options can be found across the city’s unique neighborhoods, lending Cleveland a reputation as a dining destination.
On the shores of Lake Erie, Cleveland’s four-season climate and easy access to the 24,000-acre Cleveland Metroparks system make it the perfect location for those who love the outdoors. More than 60 ethnic groups live in Cleveland, contributing to seasonal festivals with traditions brought to the region from around the world.
Thanks to our location in Cleveland—a hub of cultural, business and healthcare activity—our students gain unparalleled access to academic, research, clinical and entrepreneurial opportunities that prepare them to join our alumni network.
University Circle
Case Western Reserve University is located in the heart of University Circle, one of the city’s most energetic and culturally robust communities. Just minutes away from downtown Cleveland, University Circle comprises 550 park-like acres in a vibrant urban environment. Of the 40 cultural, medical, educational, religious, and social service institutions that call University Circle home, Case Western Reserve is the largest.
Our campus community is within walking distance of outstanding destinations such as Severance Music Center, home of the world-famous Cleveland Orchestra; the Cleveland Museum of Art, housing one of the nation’s finest collections; the Cleveland Institute of Music; the Cleveland Institute of Art; the Western Reserve Historical Society; the Cleveland Botanical Garden; the Cleveland Museum of Natural History; and many others.
University Circle attracts visitors from throughout the region and around the world to its concerts, theater performances, athletic events, museums, art shows, public lectures, exhibits, and restaurants. Housing, shopping, and recreational facilities are all located in the area.