YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Former students at Youngstown State University who were unable to complete their degree due to debt may be eligible to return to campus for a second chance at their degree.

This is thanks to a program known as the "College Comeback" program, which gives students experiencing financial difficulties a second chance at completing their degree.

The program helps in two different ways. Firstly, former students who have amassed debt and are currently on a YSU payment plan may be eligible to return to campus and have a portion of their debt forgiven.

Additionally, through the Ohio College Comeback Compact, students who have attended one of eight partner institutions and have a financial hold on their account with the Ohio Attorney General may be eligible to continue their education at YSU and reduce or eliminate money owed.

These partner institutions include Kent State University, Cleveland State University, University of Akron, Stark State University, Lakeland Community College, Lorain County Community College, Cuyahoga County Community College and YSU.

The two pathways for completion have slightly different eligibility requirements, but both can result in participants receiving up to $5,000 in debt forgiveness.

Emily Wiand, a Spring 2023 graduate at YSU described how this program helped her in a difficult situation.

"This program helped pull me out of a place in my life where I thought I was going to be stuck at a dead-end job. YSU has always been a place where I have felt excited and eager to learn," Wiand said.

In order to be eligible for YSU's College Comeback Program, you must not have been enrolled at YSU for at least three semesters, you must be in good academic standing, you must have your FAFSA form completed, you must enroll for a minimum of six semester hours, you must earn GPA of 2.0 or higher and you must not have earned a bachelor's degree.

To qualify for the College Comeback Compact, you must owe a certified debt of $5,000 or less to one previously attended partner institution and your debt must not be assigned to a special counsel.

Additionally, you cannot be involved in bankruptcy proceedings, you cannot currently be enrolled in an associate's or bachelor's degree or certificate program at any institution and you cannot have previously received the maximum debt cancelation through the Compact.

The complete list of requirements and how to apply can be found here. Any further inquiries should be sent to [email protected].