OSU expands aid to regional campuses
“This, we hope, is one more door toward success and the completion of student degree pathways.”
Ohio State University will expand an initiative next spring that’s meant to close the financial-aid gap for low- and moderate-income students to its regional campuses.
The university announced last fall that it will provide financial aid at its main campus in Columbus to all in-state students who qualify for federal Pell grants. The university’s aid package will cover any tuition and mandatory fees remaining after federal aid, Ohio College Opportunity Grants and other gift aid is applied.
Beginning in spring 2019, Ohio State will commit up to an additional $3 million per year to expand the aid program to Ohio students at its regional campuses, the university announced Friday.
The expansion is expected to support an additional 1,200 students at Ohio State’s Lima, Mansfield, Marion and Newark campuses, as well as its Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster.
That’s on top of the $11 million that Ohio State said it expects to spend to support an estimated 3,500 students at its main campus each year.
To receive the additional financial aid from Ohio Bruce McPheron, Ohio State provost
State, Pell-eligible students on the regional campuses must be enrolled full time, have completed at least one semester of full-time courses toward an Ohio State degree, and have completed or be enrolled in a university survey course designed to help students assess their interests and plan their degree path.
Students at regional campuses are ineligible for Ohio College Opportunity Grants, so the cost after aid is typically a little bit larger for those students. Lower tuition and instructional costs at regional campuses help, but Ohio State hopes covering the remaining costs will help ensure students’ success, said Ohio State Provost Bruce McPheron.
“For students from families in the lower half of Ohio’s income distribution, we don’t want financial considerations to be the reason that they’re not successful,” McPheron said. “This, we hope, is one more door toward success and the completion of student degree pathways.”