Starting in fall 2026, many Ohio families will have a new way to send their kids to college tuition-free, as long as they start out at one of Ohio State University’s regional campuses or at OSU’s Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI) in Wooster.
The new Regional Campus Commitment program will cover all tuition and mandatory fees for students from families with an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less.
That means students who begin their degree in Lima, Mansfield, Marion, Newark, or Wooster can complete an associate or bachelor’s degree there, or transition to the Columbus campus later, without worrying about tuition bills.
“This initiative makes it possible for families who earn under $100,000 a year to obtain a world-class education as a Buckeye with their tuition and fees completely covered,” said Dr. Jennifer Schlueter, Dean and Director of Ohio State Marion.
Ohio State officials say the program is part of President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.’s Education for Citizenship 2035 framework, which aims to make higher education more affordable and accessible while fueling workforce development across the state. Regional campuses already serve as pipelines for in-demand jobs in health care, engineering, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and more.
To qualify, students must:
- Be Ohio residents
- Enroll at an Ohio State regional campus or OSU ATI
- File the FAFSA each year by the priority deadline
- Stay enrolled full-time
- Have a family income of $100,000 or less, verified through FAFSA
The award works by covering whatever tuition and mandatory fees remain after other federal, state, and institutional aid is applied.
Regional campuses have seen nearly a 20% bump in first-year enrollment over the past two years, and OSU leaders say this new program could make that growth even stronger.
“The Regional Campus Commitment makes an Ohio State degree attainable for more students across the state,” said OSU Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda. “By removing financial barriers, we are expanding opportunity and preparing more graduates to contribute to their communities and to Ohio’s future.”
