About the University

Front view of Adelbert Hall in spring with green trees all around

The University

Case Western Reserve University is one of the nation’s leading independent research universities. With programs encompassing the arts and sciences, engineering, the health sciences, law, management, and social work, our community works every day to think beyond the possible.

Case Western Reserve University

10900 Euclid Ave.

Cleveland, OH 44106

Brief History

Case Western Reserve University’s origins date back nearly 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 121,000 alumni. The university comprises seven schools and a college:

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 health care, 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 health care and biotechnology industries position Cleveland as a health care 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 Metropark 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.

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 like Severance Hall, 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.

2024-25 General Bulletin