In a recent development from Ohio, male students who have failed to register with the U.S. Selective Service may find themselves ineligible for state tuition subsidies, affecting their college financial planning significantly. Ohio law mandates that students required to sign up for Selective Service but who have not done so are to be charged out-of-state tuition rates, which can be substantially higher than the rates for Ohio residents.
Under federal law, nearly all male U.S. citizens, as well as male immigrants residing in the United States, must register with the Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. The ramifications of non-compliance with this requirement are now echoing through Ohio’s public university system, as demonstrated at The Ohio State University and Miami University.
The Ohio Revised Code states clearly that male students born after December 31, 1959, who have not submitted a statement of Selective Service status to their university or college will be charged the same tuition surcharge applied to non-residents of the state. This requirement also extends to those seeking financial assistance for educational expenses under various Ohio scholarship and loan programs.
The Ohio State University has outlined the consequences for non-compliance on its website, emphasizing that in-state students will be assessed non-resident fees if they fail to provide their Selective Service Registration Number or verification of exemption. This can lead to a considerable hike in educational costs. For instance, the estimated annual tuition for a resident undergraduate on the Columbus campus is $12,859, while the charge for a non-resident is a staggering $38,365.
The financial burden doesn’t stop at tuition. Housing and food, necessary components of the college experience, especially for incoming first-years who are required to live on campus, can add significantly to the bill. As published, the anticipated cost for the most common housing and food plan combination in Columbus is $14,382.
Relevant articles:
– Selective Service Registration and In, The Ohio State University
– Basic costs include tuition, food and housing., osu.edu
– Section 3345.32 – Ohio Revised Code, Ohio Laws (.gov)
– Selective Service Registration | Costs | One Stop, Miami University