The University of Dayton is working to help students who have stopped college finish their degrees through a collaboration that forgives up to $5,000 student debt.

The BOLD (Be Ohio’s Latest Degree holder) compact targets students who have: 

• Previously enrolled at one of the eight partner institutions without earning a degree;
• Stopped college for two semesters or more;
• Some amount of outstanding institutional (not federal) debt up to $5,000; and
• Earned at least a 2.0 grade point average on their college transcripts.

“We want students who have had to stop out of college for any reason to know there is still a path to your degree, and UD is here to support you,” said Donnell Wiggins, dean of admissions. “We are excited to continue our work with this initiative and see its impact on our state grow.”

About 1.5 million Ohioans have some college, but no credential.

Along with UD, Central State, Shawnee State, Wittenberg and Wright State universities and Edison State and Sinclair colleges are partners in the program. 

In the first year, the program contacted 35,000 students. Hundreds completed applications with an interest in returning to school. Of those, approximately 20% enrolled in college and approximately 33% completed the semester. The BOLD Compact celebrated its first graduate in the summer of 2023. The program will contact 25,000 students this fall. 

More information, including full details on critical, is available online at https://www.soche.org/college-students/bold-compact/.