buckeye Bridge: Ohio โState & Columbus State Launch โคtuition-free Bachelor’s Degree โฃPathway
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX)โ –
Ohioโ State University and Columbus State Community college announced โขa transformative new initiative, Buckeye โฃBridge,โฃ on Monday, offering a tuition-free pathway for โeligible Ohio students to complete their bachelor’s degrees. the โขprogram represents a significant investmentโข in accessibility and affordability in higher โคeducation.
Buckeye Bridge is a cornerstone โof โฃOhio stateโ President Walterโ “Ted” Carter Jr.’s “Education for Citizenship 2035” strategic framework, which prioritizes expanding โaccess to education, reducing financial barriers, and bolstering workforce development โacrossโ the state.
“with this program, students will be โฃable to develop โฃthe skillsโข they โneedโฃ for in-demand careersโ that require four-year degrees,” President Carter stated. “We’re so pleased to join with our longtime partnersโ at โColumbus State on this important effort to โempower Ohioans and strengthen our state’s economic future.”
The initiative specifically targets low- to middle-income Ohio residents who have โคalreadyโ earned โan associate degree โฃfrom Columbus State.โค Buckeyeโ Bridge โwill cover 100% of tuition and mandatory โขfees for these studentsโ asโข they continue โtheir education at Ohio State’s Columbus campus. Currently, over 1,000 students transfer fromโ Columbus State to Ohio State annually; Buckeye Bridge aims to substantially increase this number by streamlining and financially โขsupporting โthe transfer process.
“Together,โ Columbus State and Ohio State are not only helping students launch successful careers, we’re strengthening the talent ecosystem โขthat โขdrivesโค our region’s economic prosperity,” said Columbus Stateโข President Davidโ Harrison. “This partnership is a powerful example of howโ collaboration canโฃ unlock opportunities for โstudents and benefit โคthe entire community.”
Buckeyeโ bridge guarantees admission to Ohio State’s Columbus campus for qualifyingโค studentsโ pursuing a bachelor’s degree. The program provides eligibility for โup to eight โคsemesters, or โuntil the completion โof a โfirstโค bachelor’s degree. It’s important to note that certainโค academic majors may have additional admission requirements beyond theโค general program criteria.
Eligibility Requirements
To โqualifyโค for the Buckeye Bridge program, students must meet โคtheโ following โcriteria:
- Be a resident โof the state ofโ Ohio.
- Successfully complete an associateโข degree โat Columbus State Community College.
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually.
- Maintain full-time enrollment status at Ohio State university.
- Have a familyโค Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $100,000 or less.
The program โฃis slatedโ to officiallyโ launchโข for students graduating from Columbus State in Spring 2026, with enrollment at Ohio State beginningโฃ in the Autumn semester of the โsame year. This timeline allows prospective students ample time to plan โand prepare for this remarkable opportunity.
This article wasโข updated on November 6, 2023, to include aโข link to the official Ohio State University news release.
