Ohio State University’s new Education for Citizenship 2035 plan is aiming high. They’re expanding free tuition programs for Ohio residents. First, any Ohio student with a perfect SAT or ACT score won’t just get accepted, they’ll have tuition, housing, dining covered, plus a $5,000 research stipend. Then, students from families making under $100,000 who enroll on regional campuses will also have tuition covered. If they keep good grades, they can transfer to the main campus and finish their degree without tuition. It’s all part of OSU pushing to reduce debt and keep more graduates in Ohio.
But OSU isn’t alone. Several other colleges around the state are now offering tuition-free paths under certain conditions.
- Case Western Reserve University
Through the Cleveland Scholars Program, graduates of Cleveland Metropolitan School District and East Cleveland City Schools may receive full tuition. -
University of Akron
The “Making Akron Possible (MAP) Grant” covers tuition and general fees for Ohio students with family incomes up to $85,000 who live in certain counties. -
Ohio University
Offers tuition-free options like the President’s Opportunity Promise Award, which covers Athens campus tuition for Pell-eligible students with at least a 3.0 GPA, and the OHIO Regional Promise Award, which provides free tuition at its regional campuses for qualifying students.Other universities participating include Otterbein University, Shawnee State, and Columbus State Community College — each with programs that lower or eliminate tuition for eligible students under various income, test score, or residency requirements.
If you’re interested in any of these programs, check deadlines, eligibility requirements — including FAFSA, residency, GPA — since they vary.
