What is the Ohio College Comeback Compact?

The Ohio College Comeback Compact is a collaboration between eight public universities and community colleges in Northeast Ohio. Students who left these colleges before completing their degree and who owe money to their former school can continue their education at their former college or at any of the participating colleges and reduce or eliminate the money they owe. The Compact is the first program of its kind and how it works may change over time.

Is this program right for you?

If you formerly attended any of the eight Compact colleges or universities, have not finished your degree, and owe money to your former school, you may be eligible to continue your education and get the benefits offered by the Compact. Click here to check your eligibility. 

How does it work?

In Northeast Ohio, like the rest of the country, thousands of students leave college without earning a degree. Many of these students owe money to their former school. In some cases, this debt prevents students from accessing their transcripts, an official record of the college credits they previously earned. Without an official transcript, students are often unable to continue their education at any college. The Ohio College Comeback Compact helps students continue their education, reduce or eliminate the money they owe, and gain access to their transcripts. 

Eligible students who want to continue their education at their former college or at one of the other Compact colleges or universities will meet with an advisor to consider their options. Once the student enrolls in any of the Compact colleges or universities, and completes one semester, their former college will forgive up to $2,500 of debt. Students may qualify for up to $5,000 in forgiveness by completing two semesters or earning a degree or certificate. Once the complete amount of debt (up to $5,000) is canceled, the student’s former school releases their transcript. See Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about how a student qualifies for debt forgiveness.

The Compact colleges and universities will forgive the money their former students owe them, even if their former students re-enroll in a different Compact college or university. When a student re-enrolls in a different college, their new college pays a small fee to their former college. To read more about the financial transactions between colleges participating in the Compact, see Frequently Asked Questions.