Tax-payer supported colleges need the state to help them collect unpaid tuition.
/ WNWO
AKRON (AP) -- Ohio's tax-supported universities are increasingly relying on the state to collect tuition owed by cash-strapped students.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports that Ohio colleges and universities have asked the state to help them collect more than $140 million in unpaid tuition and fees in the last three years.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says the figure is "shocking." DeWine's office is tasked with collecting money owed to state entities, including taxpayer-supported colleges.
The Ohio State University tops the list of creditors, owed $10.3 million by former students so far in 2011. The University of Toledo is owed $3.8 million by debtors and Youngstown State has asked the state for help collecting $3.3 million.
A spokesman for the attorney general says the state has collected $96 million since 2009.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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