Can you go back in?
Summer term tuition is discounted at the Columbus campus and off campus sublets are usually discounted by students going away for the summer.
“Summer term instructional fees, and general and non-resident surcharges for Columbus campus undergraduates will be discounted by 25 percent compared to autumn and spring semesters.” https://registrar.osu.edu/summerterm/
@BuckeyeMomX3 I would suggest calling the financial aid office to discuss options, but there are other options which your daughter can pursue.
Please understand that I am stating this option as something you might investigate to see “if “ it can be done legally. Now that your daughter is of age she can declare her financial independence if she takes a gap year she then can apply for financial aid based on her own income (not your family’s). Then her EFC would be in the correct range for her financial situation. Now this is not that simple there are protections put in place so that people with money can’t take advantage, but I would investigate this with a tax accountant and OSU financial aid (each school has their own requirements).
^ Unless the student marries or has a child, that isn’t going to work.
As other posters have already said, Ohio State is a nationally renowned research university with a top notch brand, meaning that it simply doesn’t have to offer much for scholarships in order to get top students. Schools like Alabama and Miami University offer lots of scholarships because they have to. My son got the National Buckeye Scholarship as an OOS, but even with that, his tuition is around $18,000 per year along with another $15,000 per year for dorm, meal plan, books, travel, etc. Still pricey, but as we (I, my wife, and son) see it, the price tag is still worth it. And it’s worth it for many other out of state students who want to be a Buckeye. Unfortunately, it means that many strong students from Ohio will have to go to Miami, Ohio U., Akron, etc. as an alternative.
@skibunny2, Independent for tax purposes is different than being independent for financial aid. Students can’t just “declare” that they’re an independent for financial aid.
Student has to live on-campus, even if the student is local to Columbus?
Oops, misread. If local they can live at home.
Regarding ‘independence’, if the student could actually afford to set up their own household independent of their parent’s contribution this student wouldn’t qualify for FA anyway. Student income and assets are assessed at a much higher rate than parents on FAFSA.
https://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/2021EFCFormulaGuide.pdf
p. 3 defines independent student
<<regarding ‘independence’,="" if="" the="" student="" could="" actually="" afford="" to="" set="" up="" their="" own="" household="" independent="" of="" parent’s="" contribution="" this="" wouldn’t="" qualify="" for="" fa="" anyway.="" income="" and="" assets="" are="" assessed="" at="" a="" much="" higher="" rate="" than="" parents="" on="" fafsa.="">>
As a general premise, actually, not true. Students can qualify as an independent student for financial aid purposes and not have the resources to set up a household (i.e., they live with friends, rent a room from someone, live in a shelter, etc.). There must be unique circumstance (abusive home, homeless, etc.); taking a gap year won’t cut it. Independent students can–and do–qualify for financial aid. Source: I was an independent student in undergrad, had no support from parents, lived with friends, and received financial aid (in the form of Pell Grants, work study, loans, scholarships, etc.).
Correct
Sorry my post above was confusing post #27 originally asked about ‘even if a student’s house is in Columbus’ and I was conflating tOSU housing policy - students must live on campus for 2 years (unless they can commute from their parent or guardian’s home) - with whether a student being a homeowner (student’s house) some how would make them independent (it wouldn’t).
I was independent in college, too (married) but no Pell. Income part time put me well above qualifying. And my kids wouldn’t qualify with or without the parent portion of EFC (no auto 0 EFC for students). They’ve worked and saved all through hs.
Most students can’t pay for college even instate with just Pell Grant, state grant, and loan, especially on campus. They need parent support for living or commuting expenses at least.
OP, several have mentioned attending a branch campus for 1-2 years, just wanted to let you know that in our area (Columbus…big competition academically for admission to main campus), it is quite common for kids to go to a branch for at least the first year, then transfer to main campus which seems to only require a 3.0 grade average.
I really want to go to tOSU, but I’m from NC. I was hoping to double major in Athletic Training and Biology (tOSU is one of the only schools I’d go to for athletic training) but the price is a huge con. Does anyone have any tips for affordability? I have an aunt that lives in Ohio if that could change anything. tOSU is my top school, but if I get accepted, the only thing stopping me is the price tag. My stats aren’t good enough to get a scholarship. I don’t know what to do…
@WassupBrina not sure where you are in the process now but have you looked into applying to a branch campus that you could commute to while living with your aunt for the first year to save on the housing fees then applying to the AT program at main campus for sophomore year since it is a second-year entry program anyway? My D is an AT/Pre-Med major and she knows of a current AT student that went to a branch for his first year but was still given consideration during the application process freshman year and gained admissions to the AT program so became a main campus student at the sophomore level. Just a thought to cut your first year costs a bit!
Thanks for all the responses, everyone. She did receive an OSU merit scholarship, as well as an alumni association scholarship. Alas, the two combined came to less than the smallest scholarship offered by any of the other universities and it just wasn’t practical to continue pursuing OSU for her undergraduate degree. Commuting to a regional campus would have been too difficult (we don’t live near any of the campuses). She has decided she really likes the University of Dayton, so UD it is! For her planned career field, she will have to go to graduate school. She is hoping to attend graduate school at OSU and live off-campus, so the can still fulfill her dream of going to her father’s alma mater. In the meantime, she has a job lined up for this summer and she will be saving everything she can to cover her living expenses for then. Thanks again! Go Buckeyes!