Ohio State University parking permits will again increase in price by 4%.

CampusParc, a private company, operates the parking garages and lots where students, faculty, and staff park. But how do the prices compare to other public universities in the U.S.? It depends on where you go.

The 4% price increase is nothing new. A more than ten-year-old contract worth nearly $500 million allows CampusParc to operate the parking lots and parking garages on campus. The contract sets a 4% cap on price increases.

Sarah Blouch, president and CEO of CampusParc, told WOSU that there are other, more affordable options for students, staff and faculty.

“Of course nobody likes price increases. Nobody likes paying for parking … but I think the people who use their parking spaces every year are used to it. They know that prices are going up and we try to make that known and announce the prices early so they know what they are,” Blouch said.

How does the Ohio State University parking permit system work?

OSU’s permit system is complicated, and prices vary widely depending on which permit you get. Parking garage permits are more expensive than surface parking spaces that are farther from central campus.

The highest permit OSU faculty and administrative staff can currently purchase costs $1,396 per year, or $116.40. This annual cost is also prorated depending on which month of the year you purchase it, with terms typically beginning in August at this maximum price.

This permit, called Permit A, gives you the best value and access to 11,000 reserved parking spaces across campus. It also gives you access to virtually all other parking spaces in garages or parking lots. The permit is only available to faculty and administrative staff.

Other permits offer fewer parking spaces or are limited to certain parking lots or garages. Permits also depend on whether you are a faculty member, staff member or student.

Other annual permits available to faculty and staff range in price from as little as $362 per year for the property south of Ackerman Road on the north side of campus to $1,302 per year for Permit B for a garage.

Annual student permit prices range from $171 for a West Campus permit to $1,229 for garage access.

Additional off-campus parking is available nearby in the University District. Students, employees, visitors, and staff using this option should exercise caution when parking where metered on-street parking is required and be aware of days the City of Columbus clears streets.

Parking at OSU tends to be more expensive for faculty and staff, but less expensive for students.

In a study of 11 universities conducted by the University of Las Vegas Nevada, OSU had the second highest cost for faculty parking. The study looked at each university’s most expensive permit, which for OSU was Permit A.

Only the University of Washington offered a more expensive option for faculty and staff, costing $2,000 per year. The University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities had the cheapest annual permit for staff, at $112.

For students, OSU was below average at just under $500 per year when considering only surface parking, which the university says is not restricted beyond qualifications. These more expensive garage permits are very limited in availability.

The most expensive student permit was again at the University of Washington at $1,350. The cheapest was at the University of Texas at Austin at $169 per year.

OSU imposes significantly higher fines for parking violations than the city of Columbus

Another factor that affects parking rates at OSU is the cost of a parking ticket or, worse, towing.

On the streets near campus, towing is a much greater risk, especially due to street cleaning times when the city tends to tow a lot of cars.

If motorists are towed by the City of Columbus on a street cleanup day and need to pick up a vehicle, the towing fee is $125, and $70 of that fee goes to the contracted towing company.

Owners must pay a $55 fine and $18 per day for storage at the city’s detention facility. If owners do not pick up their vehicles within two or three days, unclaimed vehicles are considered for auction after a notification process that takes several months.

For comparison, Ohio State University charges $92.50 for a standard parking violation. Having your vehicle towed to the holding area costs $166.25, and releasing the held vehicle costs another $332.50.

That equates to a cost of nearly $600 if you are towed by CampusParc rather than the City of Columbus.

Blouch admits the price is high, but towing is less common. She says it usually only happens to repeat offenders.

“We don’t want to hide in the bushes and catch people. That’s why we search all parking lots every day. But every day at a different time,” said Blouch.

Compared to the City of Columbus, OSU issues lower fines when a traffic offender parks in a handicapped parking space on campus. On campus, traffic offenders are fined $462, while traffic offenders in the City of Columbus are fined $500.