Ohio State ATI

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
Wooster, Ohio

College Credit Plus

What is the Ohio State Academy?
The Ohio State Academy Program is an opportunity for high school students to enroll in Ohio State classes. The Academy Program is the Ohio State implementation of College Credit Plus that has been created by the State of Ohio. This program is a partnership between Ohio State, the high school, and the student and his or her parents.

There are two options for enrolling in the Academy Program.

Option A – Students enroll in courses to receive college credit, and the students’ family is responsible for all costs.  This option is available autumn and spring semesters at the Wooster campus (ATI), but not during the summer.

  • Option B – Students enroll in courses to receive both college credit and high school credit, and the local school district is responsible for the cost of tuition and books.  This option is available autumn and spring semesters at the Wooster campus (ATI), but not during the summer.
    • When applying for Option B, be aware of the following:
      • Funding for College Credit Plus Option B is determined by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). Ohio State follows the guidelines set by ODE to determine who will receive this funding.
      • Students who attend a public high school must submit an "intent to participate" form with their high school no later than April 1 of the year prior to participating in College Credit Plus. See your high school counselor or principal for more information.
      • Students who attend a non-public high school or are home-schooled must apply to the ODE for funding once they have been admitted to a College Credit Plus program. This funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, see your school counselor or principal, or visit education.ohio.gov. Students who are not funded by ODE may still enroll under Option A.

Additional requirements for participation:

  • Students must be residents of Ohio. (International students who are currently enrolled in Ohio high schools are eligible to participate in the Ohio State Academy.)
  • Students must reside in the home of their parent or guardian, which must be within commuting distance of the Ohio State campus of enrollment. (On-campus housing is not available.)

Applying to the Academy (Post-Secondary Students)
Students who wish to participate in the Academy program should first meet with the high school counselor or principal to discuss the opportunities and risks offered by the College Credit Plus Program. The Ohio State Academy program has a selective admission process in which students are considered for admission based on their academic performance. Students applying for admission to the Academy program should meet the following criteria:

Ohio State ATI Campus in Wooster:

  • Meeting the state of Ohio's College Readiness Indicators:
    • ACT English score of 18 (SAT Writing 430; Critical Reading 450)
    • ACT Reading score of 22 (SAT 450)
    • ACT Math score of 22 (SAT 520)

Columbus Campus:

  • High school curriculum and performance (class rank, GPA)
  • Standardized college admissions test: ACT, SAT
  • Accelerated curriculum (Honors, AP, IB)
  • Ability and desire to contribute to a diverse campus community
  • Leadership, co-curricular and work experiences
  • Competitiveness of high school
  • Status as a first-generation college student
  • Outstanding talent in a particular area
  • High school performance was adversely affected by physical, mental or learning environment factors

Application Process

The Academy Program application and additional details can be found on the ACADEMY WEBSITE. 

To be considered for admission to the Academy Program, students must submit the following materials by the deadline (see "Application Deadlines" below):

  1. Completed online application
  2. Completed High School Information Form, signed by the high school counselor or principal
  3. Official transcript of high school course work
  4. Standardized test scores (ACT or SAT)

Note: There is no application fee to participate in the College Credit Plus program.

Admission to OSU after High School
The Ohio State Academy Program is designed for talented high school students wishing to take college courses while still in high school. Admission to the Academy Program does not imply or guarantee admission to the Columbus campus of The Ohio State University as a degree-seeking student. An Academy participant who desires admission to Ohio State's Columbus campus as a degree-seeking student must complete a separate application and participate in a competitive admission process.

Course Registration and Availability  
Students who are admitted to the Academy Program will be required to attend an orientation program before the start of their first semester of enrollment. Students will meet with the Academy advisor and schedule classes during this orientation program. 

Admission to the Academy Program does not guarantee availability of courses or a seat in particular class. Students may not be able to enroll in courses for a variety of reasons, including:

  • A course may not be offered every semester.
  • A course may not fit into a student's schedule.
  • The class may be full; course enrollment will be limited by the number of seats available in the course.
  • The class may be restricted to students in a particular major, or to students who have completed required pre-requisite courses or achieved required placement test scores.
  • Students who are pursuing their Ohio State degree will be offered first choice of courses before Academy students are able to register for classes.

Note: one 3-semester-hour university course = 1 Carnegie Unit = 1 year-long course in high school.

Important Application Deadlines:

  • February 1 - online application is available on the Ohio State website
  • April 1 - deadline to submit letter to your school counselor/district of your intent to participate in the College Credit Plus Program
  • May 1 - deadline to apply for the autumn semester 
  • July through August - autumn semester orientations (dates to be be determined)
  • August 25 - first day of Autumn Semester classes
  • October 15 - deadline to apply for spring semester classes (still need to meet April 1 deadline for informing school district of intent to participate in College Credit Plus)

 What are the benefits of enrollment in the Academy?

  • Students gain free college credit.
  • Students have the opportunity to enroll in classes not available at their high school.
  • Students have the opportunity to experience a college classroom, including learning about college course differences and college faculty expectations.
  • Students earn official Ohio State credit and have a college transcript and grade point average.

What are the risks of of enrollment in the Academy?

  • College courses may be very challenging and require additional time commitments.
  • Academy students may have less time to be involved in extra-curricular activities and/or after-school jobs.
  • Calendars will likely not match between the high school and college.
  • Students who enroll under Option B may be asked to repay the local school district for the cost of tuition and books if they fail or withdraw from a course.
  • Transportation is not provided, and students must also factor in time for driving, parking, etc.
  • Federal financial aid may be impacted: federal guidelines limit the number of courses you may attempt (even if they are taken while in high school) to 150% of the number of credits needed for a degree.