Can I wait a year, then get the Ohio State University resident tuition?

Question

Ohio State is my dream school and I am set on living there. I moved from Ohio to Texas a few years back, but I just can't find any in-state colleges that I like as much as OSU. If I went there though, the out of state tuition fee is unbelievably high, and I know I couldn't afford it. I am aiming to get a scholarship, but the cost is still going to be way more than I can handle.

But I was talking to my mom about it and she suggested that I wait a year, move up to ohio where the rest of my family is, get a job and earn some money for college, then the next year apply as an Ohio resident. Would this work, even if I graduated from a texas highschool?

Answer 1

Yes it would ... you just need to prove that you lived in the state for a year ... and you can do that through pay stubs or utility bills when you move there.

Answer 2

Double check with admission to see how long you have to be a resident to qualify for in-state tuition. If you don't get a scholarship, your mom has a very good suggestion. This will save you tons of money, especially if you have to take out loans.

If you get a scholarship, the tuition rate won't matter, but check if the donor (school or individual, depending on what type) may stipulate you have to start classes within a specified time and may not let you wait a year to save up money for living expenses.

I hope everything works out for you. Best of luck in your studies!

Answer 3

Read the residency policy VERY carefully and dont assume anything.  Simply moving to Ohio and working there for a year won't necessarily get you the in state tuition.  

http://www.ohio.edu/admissions/residency...

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Normally, colleges follow a dependent and independent policy; meaning, if you are dependent student are your parent live in texas you will be seen as an out-of-state student.  This will be the case despite you working and paying a taxes there.  I suggest reading the OSU's catalog to determine if tutition is based on being dependent or independent.  Instead of coming to your own conclusion on what things should occur.