Columbus State Community College and Ohio State University announce new tuition-free program
Columbus State Community College students will soon be able to finish their bachelor’s degree at Ohio State University tuition-free.
The universities recently announced Buckeye Bridge, a new initiative that will launch next year starting with students graduating from Columbus State in spring 2026 and planning to start at Ohio State in fall 2026.
To qualify, a Columbus State graduate must be an Ohio resident, file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid annually, be a full-time Ohio State student, and have a family adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less.
Buckeye Bridge will cover all tuition and mandatory fees for up to eight semesters at Ohio State.
“It’s about eliminating uncertainty for students and families,” Columbus State President David Harrison said. “It’s about creating a clear, predictable, guaranteed, debt-free pathway.”
More than 1,000 students per year transfer from Columbus State to Ohio State.
“This effort will strengthen the associates to bachelor’s pipeline for central Ohioans, creating new pathways for students, further their education, and earn the skills necessary for many of our state’s in-demand jobs,” Ohio State University President Ted Carter said.
This initiative is about access and opportunity for Ohio students, he said.
“Every student who’s willing to work hard should have the opportunity to pursue a four-year degree no matter their background,” Carter said. “Programs like Buckeye Bridge send a message to our young people that we want you here, and we’re working hard to reduce barriers to a college education.”
This will also benefit Ohio’s economy, he said.
“More Ohio students will have the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s degree, building a strong pipeline of talent for Ohio employers and meeting the need for more highly skilled graduates to fill in demand jobs across our state,” Carter said.
Imanie Williams, a computer information systems student at Columbus State, will be graduating with her associates degree in the spring and plans to transfer to Ohio State to earn her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
“From a young age, I faced obstacles that could have discouraged me — from losing my sense of home to navigating my 20’s as a caretaker for my grandmother, all working long hours,” said Williams, who was born and raised in Columbus. “Becoming a first-generation student has been a battle, but has built my resilience and strengthened my determination.”
Columbus State helped make her dream of going to college a reality and she is excited to be part of Buckeye Bridge next fall.
“It shows Ohio State not only believes in hard working students, but is also committed to making sure students like me have the resources we need to succeed even after we transfer,” she said. “This support removes the many barriers I faced and allows me to fully focus on my studies, building my career, and to be able to give back to the community that has raised me.”
More than 60 companies have recently moved or expanded into Ohio, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel said.
“There are going to be so many opportunities for our Ohioans to reach their God-given potential,” he said. “This is going to be a great message for the rest of the state that let’s find ways to get together, because we have the greatest opportunities we may have ever had in the history of our state.”
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