YOUNGSTOWN — Tens of thousands of college students in northeast Ohio who left school without a degree and owe money to their former college now have a pathway back to settle the debt and continue their education.

The Ohio College Comeback Compact aims to help students who left college without a degree continue their education while reducing or eliminating their debt.

This program is open to eligible students who previously attended any of the eight participating institutions — including Youngstown State University and Kent State University — have been out of college at least a year, maintained a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average before they left, and owe the institution $5,000 or less. To learn more about the program and to check eligibility, visit the compact’s website at ohiocollegecome back.org.

Beginning this month, the Ohio College Comeback Compact is contacting 15,000 students to come back to any public college in the region, even if they owe money and their transcript is being held because of it.

“This is yet another way that YSU is working with our partner universities and community colleges throughout the region to assist students to finish their studies,” Jeanne Herman, YSU registrar said.

“The Ohio Department of Higher Education is committed to working with the outstanding public colleges and universities in northeast Ohio to make the Ohio College Comeback Compact a success,” Randy Gardner, chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, said. “Ohio companies need educated workers, and that need is growing with the unprecedented number of multinational companies moving to our state. The goal of the Ohio College Comeback Compact is to encourage adults to return to college to finish degrees so they can advance their careers in our growing economy.”

The Ohio College Comeback Compact is supported by nonprofits Ithaka S+R and College Now Greater Cleveland, as well as the Ohio Department of Higher Education. In addition to YSU and KSU, participating schools include Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College, Lakeland Community College, Lorain County Community College, Stark State College and the University of Akron.