Distance Learning: Costs and Fee Deadlines

Tuition and Fee General Information

Paying for college is a big financial commitment. At Ohio State, the credentials you earn will be from one of the top public universities in the country and earning your credential online makes it a great value as well as a great investment in your future.

Tuition costs vary by program and the number of credits in which you are enrolled. All distance education credits are billed at in-state tuition rates, though additional per-term fees are assessed to non-residents of Ohio. 

View further information about fees and costs

Fee deadlines and payment

Fee payment deadline is 7 days before the start of a semester.

View Registrar's Fees and Deadlines

Once registered a total fee amount for the term will be generated. If you have registered for only online learning courses, then you will be billed as an Ohio Resident (a lower per-credit rate). A flat $200 non-resident fee will also be assessed for any students who are not residents of Ohio, regardless of citizenship. Additionally, certain on-campus fees will not be assessed, while certain distance learning fees will be added. 

Important payment deadline: Fees for a given term are due on or before one week (seven calendar days) in advance of the first day of classes. *

  • Please be aware that if you enroll prior to this one-week-out deadline, your fees will still be due one week before the start of class.
  • If a student enrolls less than one week before the start of classes or during the first week of a term, the fee due date is five business days following enrollment.
  • For more, see "Registration & Fees at a Glance"

Tuition Option Payment Plan (TOPP)
TOPP allows students to divide the cost of tuition and fees into installment payments - four installments for autumn/spring semesters and three installments for summer term. If students enroll in TOPP and make the first payment by the fee payment deadline no late fees will be assessed for the remaining balance. Cost to enroll = $30 each term.

Important deadlines

A number of important deadlines occur during the term; payment due dates, dates to add a course, dates to drop, full and partial refund dates, etc. It is the student's responsibility to adhere to these dates every term of enrollment.

See "Important Dates" on the Registrar's site for dates specific to a given semester, but here are the general deadlines common to all semesters.

  • One week before start of term--Fee payment deadline. If fees are not paid in full or addressed using the TOPP program (see above), the student will be assessed a late payment fee.
  • First Friday of term
    • changes to schedule may be made by student online
    • 100% refund of fees if withdrawing from a course
  • Second Friday of term
    • Last date to make changes to enrollment (contact Mark Cooper.73 for assistance)--$100 fee for any additions made after this date.
    • 75% refund of fees if withdrawing from a course
  • Fourth Friday of term
    • Last date to withdraw from a course and have no record of enrollment (no "W" grade)
    • 50% refund of fees if withdrawing from course--last date to receive any refund if withdrawing from credits.
  • Tenth Friday of term
    • Last date to withdraw from a course. A grade of "W" will be part of the student's permanent record (a W grade does not effect the student's GPA).
    • No refund of fees is available.
    • After the tenth Friday the student must complete the class.