Housing is one of the biggest expenses students can face during the summer. Choosing the right housing option is key to reducing costs. Credit: Daniel Bush | Campus Photo Editor
With summer quickly approaching, the most important step for Ohio State students is to start planning. Housing requests, sublet listings and campus job postings are opening, and acting early can make the difference between an affordable summer and an expensive one.
To help ease the financial burden on many students during the summer, Ohio State provides support in both housing and employment.
For many Ohio State students, housing is one of the biggest expenses they face during the summer. Choosing the right housing option can significantly contribute to reducing costs over time.
According to the Housing and Residence Education website, on?campus summer housing operates on a session?based pricing structure, allowing students to significantly reduce costs by selecting only the length of stay that matches their academic schedule. The shortest four?week option is priced at $1,297.
For Summer 2026, the website states that on?campus summer residents will be housed in Nosker House, and students can request a housing contract by emailing housing or calling the office, with contracts sent beginning in early April.
To live off-campus, Chris Antjas, operations manager of the Off-Campus and Community Student Engagement office, said students can look for available units in-network on the Off-Campus website.?
Off-Campus Housing Network allows off-campus property owners to post available units if it meets certain criteria, such as the unit meeting city housing code and laws.
One of the most practical ways students can reduce their summer housing costs is by subletting their unit. Antjas said students who are away for internships or returning home during the summer can post sublet listings through the university’s single sign-on system, allowing another student to take over the space temporarily and offset the cost of rent.
Students can also post roommate ads to bring in an additional tenant and further lower their share of the rent, Antjas said.
The engagement office offers Off-Campus Living Sessions throughout the year to help students searching for housing, signing a lease and further steps. According to its website, the in-person and virtual sessions are available for undergraduates, graduate students and other specific groups.
“We strongly suggest every student is aware of what your lease says and get a lease review by Student Legal Services,” Antjas said.?
Students can help reduce housing costs by earning additional summer income opportunities at Ohio State. Taylor Koon, student employment senior specialist, said different universities departments — such as housing and residence education, facilities and operations, dining and recreational sports — need students over the summer.
“We require the help of our student employees to make sure that our campus stays running during the summer,” Koon said.
Koon said to start applying earlier than students may think.
“There’s not a certain timeline, but a lot of jobs for the summer start being posted between February to April,” Koon said.
Koon said Handshake is a good first place to look for summer employment opportunities as they are all intended for Ohio State students. Workday is also a useful tool provided for students, and frequently checking departments’ websites directly can help.
“If you are looking for employment during the summer right now, it’s never too early to start looking,” Koon said. “While students are applying for on-campus jobs, having someone else take a look at their resume can make a big difference.”
Buckeye Commons provides students with career coaching services, including career planning, resume feedback and interview practice, according to its website. Students can make an appointment for this free career coaching through Handshake.
“On-campus jobs over the summer are good opportunities for students to practice budget-setting skills,” she said. “Both supervisors and students view these jobs as a learning opportunity and a way for the students to grow in their transferable skills and feel more prepared to take the next step.”
For students needing assistance to pay for Ohio State summer classes, Amy Wheeler, assistant vice provost for student financial success, said federal grants and loans are available for students enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.
“Ohio State’s priority date was February 1, but students can still file the FAFSA and update Scholarship Universe for summer aid eligibility,” she said in an email.
Students can also apply for scholarships using Scholarship Universe, a website that provides 90% of Ohio State’s scholarships, Wheeler said.
