Ramaswamy Calls for Consolidation of Ohio Universities

Politician argues state has too many higher ed institutions, despite recent NCAA tournament success.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 6:39pm

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Republican politician and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has published an op-ed reiterating his stance that the state of Ohio has too many universities and they should be consolidated. Ramaswamy cited challenges facing some Ohio schools like enrollment declines and budget cuts, rather than celebrating the recent NCAA tournament appearances of programs like Miami University and Akron University.

Why it matters

Ramaswamy's comments come as a surprise, given the recent success of Ohio universities in the NCAA tournament. His proposal to consolidate schools could have major implications for thousands of jobs and students across the state, especially at smaller regional universities that compete in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

The details

In his op-ed, Ramaswamy highlighted issues facing some Ohio universities, such as staff cuts and sports program eliminations at Cleveland State, declining enrollment at the University of Akron, and restructuring efforts at Kent State. However, he did not acknowledge the tournament appearances of MAC schools like Akron and Kent State, which employ over 13,000 Ohioans.

  • Ramaswamy published his op-ed in the Columbus Dispatch on March 28, 2026.

The players

Vivek Ramaswamy

A Republican politician and entrepreneur who has called for consolidation of Ohio universities.

Miami University

An Ohio university that made the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament field.

Akron University

An Ohio university that made the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament field, but has faced enrollment declines in recent years.

Kent State University

An Ohio university that competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and recently launched a restructuring plan.

Cleveland State University

An Ohio university that has cut staff and eliminated NCAA sports programs in recent years.

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What they’re saying

“I love universities in Ohio. I want us to have the best universities. But we have too many of them. They need to be consolidated. And when you consolidate them, they can actually be centers of excellence who are actually the best in their respective domains instead of trying to create replicas and clones of one another throughout the state.”

— Vivek Ramaswamy

“In recent years, Cleveland State has cut staff and eliminated NCAA sports programs. The student count at the University of Akron inched up this past year but is at half of its 2010 enrollment level. Kent State launched a 'Transformation 2028' restructuring plan last year in search of administrative efficiencies. Central State University remains on 'fiscal watch.'”

— Vivek Ramaswamy

The takeaway

Ramaswamy's proposal to consolidate Ohio universities, despite the recent success of some schools in the NCAA tournament, highlights the complex challenges facing higher education in the state. His plan could have major implications for jobs, students, and local communities, especially at smaller regional institutions.