Retirement Benefits
Ohio public institutions do not participate in the federal Social Security system, other than contributions to Medicare. While employed with the university, your retirement contributions must be invested with one of the state retirement plans.
Retirement FAQs are available here.
Retirement Program Vendor list (.pdf)
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS)
State retirement plan for staff.
State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS)
State retirement plan for faculty.
Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP)
Alternative retirement plan option for eligible faculty or staff in lieu of OPERS or STRS.
Supplemental Retirement Account (SRA)
Eligible faculty and staff can use an SRA for saving additional money toward retirement income in addition to the state plan.
Post-Retirement Benefits
Benefits available to eligible employees after they retire from The Ohio State University.
OSU Retirees Association (OSURA)
Social and volunteer organization of university retirees.
Returning Retirees
Information for those returning to employment at the university after retiring from Ohio State.
General Retirement Information
Since Ohio public institutions do not participate in the federal Social Security system, you have a choice to make regarding your retirement plans. Eligible faculty will be enrolled in the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS) unless you choose the Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP). Eligible staff will be enrolled in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) unless you choose the Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP).
Faculty who are not eligible to choose the ARP will automatically be enrolled in STRS. Staff who are not eligible to elect the ARP will automatically be enrolled in OPERS.
If you are unsure whether or not you are eligible to choose a retirement plan, see Benefit Eligibility. There are several resources available to help eligible employees make a retirement plan decision.
Faculty who are not eligible to choose the ARP will automatically be enrolled in STRS. Staff who are not eligible to elect the ARP will automatically be enrolled in OPERS.
If you are unsure whether or not you are eligible to choose a retirement plan, see Benefit Eligibility. There are several resources available to help eligible employees make a retirement plan decision.
- View the Retirement Plan Comparison Charts [staff] [faculty]
- Attend a Retirement Forum for New or Newly Eligible Employees where Benefit Consultants will compare key features of OPERS, STRS-OH and the ARP, and will address issues you need to consider when making your decision.
For specific information on the retirement plans, please visit their respective web pages.
