Freshman Costs and Aid

Athens Campus Tuition (estimates per year)

View More Tuition and Fees, Including Regional and Graduate Costs

*All tuition, fees, and expenses are subject to change by action of the Board of Trustees.

Additional details about tuition and fees can be found at the Office of the Bursar. At OHIO, you can choose from a variety of room and meal plans to meet your price point. A Standard Double room is among the most affordable housing options, and the Traditional 14 is the lowest-priced meal plan for freshmen living on campus. Additional details about housing options and costs can be found at Housing and Residence Life, and more information about meal plan options can be found at Culinary Services.

Ohio Residency

Students classified as Ohio residents for tuition purposes receive the benefit of a state-supported education, funded largely by the taxpayers of Ohio.

View Details on Ohio Residency

The OHIO Guarantee

The OHIO Guarantee enables students (Ohio residents and nonresidents alike) to pay a single fixed rate that covers tuition, room and meal plan, and fees for four years. Costs will be set by the Board of Trustees and will remain steady across a student's four years at OHIO.

Learn more about the OHIO Guarantee

Financial Aid and Scholarships

At OHIO, we understand that higher education is an investment in your future, and we're committed to transparency, predictability and investing in students like you through financial aid and scholarships. OHIO’s average freshman total gift aid in 2023 was $9,032. In 2023, 99 percent of freshmen received financial aid, and 95 percent of all OHIO students received financial assistance, such as grants, loans, scholarships and/or Federal Work-Study.

Ohio University provides all federal Title IV need-based financial aid programs; all Ohio aid programs; and a variety of grants, loans and scholarships. Need-based financial assistance is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Learn More About Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial Aid Timeline for Incoming Freshmen

It's important to think about paying for college as early as possible. We have prepared a timeline to help guide high school students along the path to securing financial assistance.

Junior Year of High School

Begin researching scholarship sources by visiting your school counselor, local library, browsing the Internet and sending letters to civic organizations. It may take several weeks to get a response from scholarship sponsors so be sure to start this process no later than the summer before your senior year.

Beginning August of Senior Year

Your application for admission serves as your merit-based scholarship application, and The Common App opens for applications in August. Applying to OHIO by our Early Action Deadline of November 15 ensures you receive the best consideration for merit-based scholarships.

Beginning October of Senior Year

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) gives you access to the largest source of aid — federal student aid — along with state and institutional aid. While the FAFSA has typically been available October 1 each year, the U.S. Department of Education has announced that the 2025-2026 FAFSA will open for testing in October 2024 and to all students and families by December 1, 2024.  Students and parents can create a Federal Student Aid ID in advance and get ready to file the FAFSA. Some forms of federal and institutional financial aid are limited due to funding levels. To be considered for these limited funds, students enrolling at OHIO for fall 2025 should complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA by OHIO's first-priority date, February 15, 2025.

Beginning February of Senior Year

OHIO’s Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships will begin to mail comprehensive Financial Aid Offers in February and then on a rolling basis. The aid offer will include any merit-based awards for which you are eligible (and of which you may have been notified previously), and any awards for which you are eligible that blend merit and need.

Learn more about the Financial Aid Calendar

More Information

More information about financial aid and scholarships is available on the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships website.

Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships

Net Price Calculator

Net price is the difference between the full price to attend OHIO and the actual price you pay after scholarships and financial aid.

Calculate Your Net Cost (Athens or Regional Campuses)