Students in the Cleveland metropolitan area enjoy the Flats, an extensive district on the Cuyahoga River, the Rock n Roll Hall, the Great Lakes Science Center, Jacobs Field, home of the Indians, Gund Arena, home of the Cavaliers and Cleveland Stadium, home to the Browns.

Case Western Reserve University is located in University Circle, a cultural extension of the campus which comprises 500 acres of the gardens, museums, schools, hospitals and churches. The Museum of Art, the Museum of Natural History and Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra, are all within walking distance. Downtown is 10 minutes away by RTA rapid transit. Coopoeration in education and research among University Circle institutions enables students to make full use of all the resources available. The Cleveland Museum of Art is next door to Case Western and twenty-two other institutions including the Cleveland Institute of Music. Other institutions within walking distance that offer a variety of cultural and social experiences are the Greater Cleveland Garden Center, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Western Reserve Historical Society, the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Cleveland Cinematheque.

Established in 1882, the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) has earned a reputation for being one of the finest fully accredited independent professional colleges of art and design in the country. Nestled in the heart of the city's cultural and educational district, the Institute attracts students dedicated to becoming professional artists who seek a campus atmosphere that is both intellectually stimulating and artistically challenging.

Ten minutes from this educational enclave and approximately 30 minutes from downtown, John Carroll University is located in a quiet residential neighborhood near Shaker Heights. John Carroll was founded in 1886 as St. Ignatius College. In 1923, its name was briefly changed to Cleveland College. Later it became John Carroll University, named after the first Catholic bishop of the United States. In 1934, the University moved from its original location on Cleveland's near west side to its current location in University Heights. Originally a men's college, the University and all its programs officially became coeducational in 1968. The University owns Thorn Acres, a 30-acre recreational facility used for fishing, canoeing, retreats, and student-group meetings. The graceful walkways, rich landscape, and Gothic and contemporary architecture of the campus complement the surrounding community beautifully. The campus is easily accessible by bus, rapid transit, and car. Two shopping centers are within walking distance, so restaurants, theaters, banks, department stores, grocery stores, and specialty shops are all nearby.

Oberlin College is an integral part of the city of Oberlin, a town of about 8,000 residents located 35 miles southwest of Cleveland. The town is primarily residential, with tree-lined streets and fine old clapboard houses. The College is located in the center of town, close to the business district, and virtually everything a student needs is within walking or biking distance. Oberlin offers a small-town atmosphere, and is located not far from Cleveland. There is never a lack of something to do. More than 400 concerts and recitals take place on campus annually, from ticketed events like the Cleveland Orchestra to free student and faculty recitals. Each year the Conservatory stages two operas, and the theater and dance program presents several productions. Numerous lectures and readings feature guests prominent in a variety of disciplines. Oberlin was the first college in the country to admit women, and one of the first to admit African Americans. By 1900 nearly half of all the black college graduates in the country had graduated from Oberlin. This core of Oberlin-educated men and women formed the first black professional class in the country.