First Year Experience

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Residency requirements

Many out-of-state students have questions about becoming an Ohio resident and gaining in-state tuition. To do this, you must prove your financial independence and live in Ohio 12 consecutive months. To learn how to qualify as a resident of Ohio for tuition purposes, visit registrar.osu.edu/Residency/index.asp.

Housing

All first-year students are required to live on campus: housing.osu.edu.
Students generally start looking for housing for their sophomore year at the end of their first semester.
Learn more about off-campus housing: offcampus.osu.edu

Transportation around campus and Columbus

CABS: The Campus Area Bus System. Free for anyone to use on campus. ttm.osu.edu/cabs

COTA: The central Ohio bus system. Students ride for free with their BuckID. cota.com

Rideshares/carpooling: Neighborhood Services and Collaboration and Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement's student-only system for rides to and from campus. offcampus.osu.edu/programs/commuter-students/

City parking permit: Allows parking within designated areas off campus. publicservice.columbus.gov/parking