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Columbus State proposes ballot issue to lower tuition and produce more graduates with good-paying jobs

Campus News | Thursday, July 16, 2026

Columbus State Community College would prepare more students for good-paying jobs while lowering tuition for Franklin County residents under a ballot issue the college is preparing for the November 2026 election.

If voters approve the issue, Columbus State will expand investments in job-focused education, student success, and affordability. Every Franklin County resident would benefit from cost savings through:

  • Tuition-free education for all new high-school graduates who live in Franklin County.
  • Tuition reductions for all other Franklin County residents — a savings of $1,000 per academic year for a full-time student taking 30 credit hours. Students with more or fewer credit hours would save at proportional rates.

“This initiative is about economic prosperity and good-paying jobs,” said Columbus State President David T. Harrison. “As the region’s front door to higher education, Columbus State is preparing nurses, construction workers, IT professionals and people on the front line of Central Ohio’s manufacturing boom, among many other fields.”

“There is a direct connection between the success of Columbus State students and the well-being of Central Ohio,” Harrison said. “Our graduates fill essential jobs throughout the community, and their talent is the lifeblood of economic prosperity in the region.”

Columbus State is considering asking Franklin County voters to approve a 10-year, 1.9-mill levy that would generate $95 million annually. It would cost a homeowner $67 per $100,000 of home value based on unofficial estimates. That equates to $192 per year for the owner of a $288,000 home, the median home value in Franklin County.

The college must complete several steps by the Aug. 5 filing deadline with the Franklin County Board of Elections to formally place the issue on the November ballot.

Columbus State is Ohio’s largest community college, serving more than 41,000 students per year. More than 80% of the college’s students avoid college debt, and 80% of Columbus State graduates stay and work in Central Ohio.

Unlike Ohio’s other large community colleges, however, Columbus State does not currently receive operating support from a local levy. Recognizing the vital role that community colleges play in workforce and economic development in their service areas, the Ohio General Assembly changed state law in 2025 to enable any community college in the state to seek a ballot issue for operating funding. Per state law, Columbus State can consider requests only in Franklin County.

Columbus State would use the additional funding in three ways:

  • Reducing the cost of college for all Franklin County residents by providing tuition-free education to all new high school graduates and a tuition reduction of an estimated $1,000 per year for other students.
  • Scaling the essential components that prepare students for good-paying jobs — including instruction, career advising, tutoring and other student success services — to support Central Ohio’s growth.
  • Providing modern technology and educational equipment that prepares students for what they will experience in the workplace.

ISSUE WOULD MAKE COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE

The countywide tuition-free initiative would build on the success of a pilot program, Columbus Promise, which has nearly doubled the number of Columbus City Schools students graduating from Columbus State since it launched in 2022. Columbus Promise, which is funded by the City of Columbus and private philanthropy, has been extended through the high-school graduating class of 2027 but does not have continuing funding for future classes.

The proposed tuition-free program would be open to new high school graduates who live in Franklin County, regardless of whether they attended a district, charter, private or parochial school. The program is designed to be widely available, with few requirements other than enrolling at Columbus State within a year of high school graduation and successfully filing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Students of any income level can participate, attending the college tuition-free for up to six semesters.

“Expanding tuition-free education throughout Franklin County will open life-changing job opportunities to many students who today do not see a path to a high-paying career,” said President Harrison. “Eliminating financial barriers helps students consider career paths that they would otherwise dismiss as beyond their means.”

If voters support the ballot issue in November, tuition-free and reduced Franklin County tuition rates would go into effect starting in fall semester 2027. Tuition rates have not been set yet for the 2027-28 academic year.

COLLEGE WOULD EXPAND INSTRUCTION, STUDENT SUCCESS

Columbus State would use other levy funds to expand instruction, tutoring, student support and programs that connect students to work experiences – particularly in academic programs tied to high-wage, high-growth careers.

Currently, the college relies on one-time grants and philanthropy to create innovative programs in areas such as biotechnology and health care. The local levy would provide ongoing support to prepare students for new and evolving career opportunities. Likewise, Columbus State would use a portion of the Franklin County funding to ensure classes and labs feature modern technology and educational equipment that mirrors the workplace, so graduates are job-ready on day 1.

“This issue will fuel economic prosperity in Central Ohio by enabling Columbus State to keep pace with employers’ ever-growing demand for talent, while ensuring that local residents are first in line for jobs when companies locate or expand here,” Harrison said.

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