The Ohio State University Board of Trustees has adopted the affordability initiative proposed last month by President Michael V. Drake and instituted a comprehensive freeze on costs for in-state students.
In addition, Drake announced the launch of a $15 million affordability initiative that will provide need-based grants to thousands of Ohio State undergraduates.
Under the affordability plan, in-state tuition and fees for instruction, housing, dining, and all undergraduate programs, courses and learning technologies will remain unchanged for students on the Columbus campus. It is the first time in at least 40 years for such a broad action. Nearly 80 percent of Ohio State students are in-state, and the freeze fulfills Ohio State’s land-grant mission by ensuring college is affordable for Ohioans.
Ohio State has frozen in-state tuition and mandatory fees since the 2012-13 academic year at $10,036.80 per year. As a result, many students who began that year will graduate in 2016 without cost increases.
- For students on the Columbus campus, the resolution freezes the annual cost (including tuition, mandatory and academic program fees) for in-state undergraduates at $10,036.80.
- For out-of-state students at the Columbus campus, the cost of tuition will increase 3.1 percent in the 2015-16 academic year to $27,365. Even with that change, Ohio State will remain among the least expensive schools in the Big Ten.
- For international students, the total cost of tuition and mandatory fees would be $28,364.80 for continuing students and $29,304.80 for new students starting next fall. Those reflect 3.0 percent and 6.4 percent increases, respectively, compared to fiscal year 2015 rates.
- For students at regional campuses, in-state undergraduate tuition and fees are frozen at $7,140 and at $11,736 for in-state graduate students. Non-resident undergraduates would experience a 3.5 percent increase in tuition and mandatory fees, bringing charges to $31,208, while graduate students would experience a 3.1 percent increase for an annual cost of $31,208.
In addition, room and board rates are frozen for the 2015-16 academic year, and meal plans are redesigned to increase flexibility, provide affordability and offer a rollover feature for dining dollars. The most popular room rate (Rate 1) will remain unchanged at $7,876, and the Gray 10 meal plan (projected to be the most popular) will cost $3,790 for the year. Approximately 25 percent of undergraduates will be affected by the room rate freeze, and 28 percent by the freeze in board rates.
The board approved increases in market-based pricing for select graduate and professional programs, and increases in student health insurance.
In other business, the board approved a variety of personnel, fiscal and construction-related university matters.
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