For generations of Galion-area students, The Ohio State University at Mansfield has offered something particularly valuable: the opportunity to earn an Ohio State education without immediately leaving north central Ohio. That opportunity could become considerably more affordable beginning with the coming autumn semester.
Low- and middle-income students who begin their college careers at Ohio State Mansfield or another university regional campus may qualify for a new program covering all remaining tuition and mandatory fees after other financial aid has been applied. Known as the Regional Campus Commitment, the program is available to eligible new first-year students attending Ohio State’s campuses in Mansfield, Lima, Marion or Newark, as well as Ohio State ATI in Wooster.
For Galion students, the Mansfield campus provides a nearby entry point into the state’s largest university system, allowing them to remain close to home while beginning an associate or bachelor’s degree.
What The Program Covers
The Regional Campus Commitment is designed to fill the gap that may remain after a student receives other federal, state and university grants and scholarships. Once those sources of financial aid are applied, the new program will cover any remaining tuition and mandatory fees, up to the student’s demonstrated financial need. That means an eligible student could attend Ohio State Mansfield without paying tuition or mandatory university fees out of pocket.
The program does not necessarily cover every expense associated with attending college. Students and families may still be responsible for costs such as books, transportation, housing, meals and personal expenses. For Galion-area students commuting to Mansfield, however, combining the new tuition program with the ability to live at home could substantially reduce the overall cost of earning a degree.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for the Regional Campus Commitment, students must:
- Be Ohio residents
- Be new first-year students
- Enroll at an Ohio State regional campus or Ohio State ATI in Wooster
- Maintain full-time enrollment
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year by the university’s priority deadline
- Have a family adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less
- Demonstrate financial need through the FAFSA process
Because the award is calculated after other grants and scholarships are considered, the amount provided through the program will vary from student to student. Students must complete the FAFSA annually to remain eligible.
More Than A Place To Begin
Ohio State’s regional campuses were once viewed primarily as places where students completed their first year or two before transferring to Columbus. While that remains an option, the campuses now offer a much broader range of academic paths.
Students can begin work in more than 200 Ohio State majors at a regional campus. Depending on their chosen program, they may complete an associate or bachelor’s degree there or transition to the Columbus campus later. Programs available across the regional campus system prepare students for careers in fields such as advanced manufacturing, engineering technology, health care, agriculture, business, information technology and environmental resource management. Those areas are particularly important in north central Ohio, where employers continue to seek workers with specialized education and technical skills.
“This is a bold initiative for all Ohioans and a purposeful investment for students who seek new and expanded opportunities,” said Jason Opal, dean and director of Ohio State Mansfield. “Ohio State is committed to making higher education accessible and affordable, and this new program at our campus is an ambitious leap toward achieving those goals.”
Building On Growing Enrollment
The Regional Campus Commitment arrives as Ohio State’s regional campuses are experiencing increased interest. New first-year enrollment across the regional campus system has risen nearly 20% during the last two years. University officials hope the new financial commitment will continue that momentum by creating additional pathways for Ohio students to earn two- and four-year degrees.
The program is similar to Ohio State’s Buckeye Opportunity Program, which covers tuition and mandatory fees for Ohio residents on any university campus who are eligible for federal Pell Grants and demonstrate significant financial need. The Regional Campus Commitment expands that approach to additional low- and middle-income families whose adjusted gross income is $100,000 or less.
“The Regional Campus Commitment makes an Ohio State degree attainable for more students across the state,” said Ohio State Executive Vice President and 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.”
What It Could Mean For Galion
The value of the program extends beyond individual tuition bills. Regional campuses often serve students who have jobs, family responsibilities or financial circumstances that make relocating difficult. They also educate graduates who are more likely to establish careers near the communities where they attended college. For Galion, that could mean more local students gaining access to an Ohio State education while maintaining their connections to Crawford and Richland counties.
It could also strengthen the pool of future employees available to area manufacturers, health care providers, schools, technology companies and other businesses.
Students considering Ohio State Mansfield should complete the FAFSA as early as possible, review the university’s financial aid deadlines and confirm their eligibility directly with Ohio State.