2025 Ohio Science Olympiad Season
Registration is closed for the 2024-2025 Science Olympiad season.
Since 1985, Science Olympiad has required that all students compete as members of a team, not as individuals. Schools wishing to register a team to compete in any Science Olympiad tournament (invitational, regional, state or national) must pay to join a registered statewide program.
Multiple teams from a single school may register, but no more than two teams from any school may participate in a regional tournament (space permitting). Students on the team must all be from a single membership school. Recruiting from neighboring schools, districts, counties or states is not permitted.
Students may only compete in one division (either Division B or C, not both) at a single school. There is no exception to this requirement, regardless of what a single team or multiple teams from the same school are called. If a school has multiple teams, Science Olympiad recommends that the best team or at least the best members of the school be permitted to advance to the next level of competition. Only one team per school may advance from the regional level to the state level. No school, region or state Science Olympiad program is allowed to alter or amend these national membership requirements.
Download the free 2025 Science Olympiad Rules Manuals on the National Science Olympiad 2025 Rules webpage.
Registration Fees
The cost of Ohio Science Olympiad for the 2025 season is $250 per team. The registration deadline is Dec. 13, 2024. Teams must be registered with a state office in order to participate in any tournament (ie. Invitational, Regional etc.). Official Regional Tournament assignments will be provided to team coaches during the registration process. Please contact the state office with questions/concerns regarding payment.
Refund/Cancellation Policy
A full refund minus a $60 processing fee will be provided for team cancellations prior to the first Ohio Invitational tournament. Refunds will not be issued for teams canceling after the first Ohio Invitational tournament or those unable to participate in a scheduled Regional Tournament.
Payment Information
This year, OHSO will utilize The Ohio State University payment system through the Office of the University Bursar. In utilizing this method, payments are sent straight to the University Bursar, enhancing security and tracking capability. Please review the Accounts Receivable page of the Office of Business and Finance at Ohio State for explicit details on the invoicing process, an example customer invoice, and a copy of a signed W-9 for download.
Registrations will be entered by OHSO in the invoicing system on two dates:
- Round 1 Registration Invoicing: Oct. 30, 2024
- Round 2 Registration Invoicing: Dec. 13, 2024
About Your Invoice
Your invoice is the itemized summary of the goods and services you received from the university department or unit that billed you. Each invoice contains a unique customer number (CST- ) and invoice number (CI- ) that you must include with your payment when you remit it.
A paper copy of your invoice is printed and mailed to the address listed in the Bill-To field on your invoice and an emailed copy of your invoice from the University Bursar to the account provided during registration within 24-48 hours of invoicing. All fees must be paid/sent by Jan. 28, 2025, in order to ensure confirmation of payment prior to the first regional tournaments on March 8, 2025.
Email Mariah Lesar, state director, lesar.2@osu.edu to confirm payment has been sent to OHSO. Mariah will provide a confirmation email when the account is settled on OHSO's end.
Payment Options
Pay by Card:
Paying online is the fastest and safest way to post payment to your account. When you pay online, the transaction posts within 24 hours, clearing the balance due by the amount you paid. You may choose from one of the following payment methods:
- eCheck (ACH) — use your bank account and routing number for funds withdrawal from your account; there are no fees associated.
- Credit or Debit Card — use your MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express debit or credit card number for payment processing; there is a 2.85% convenience fee assessed at checkout. All credit and debit cards must be payable in U.S. dollars.
Pay by Mail:
Please make all checks payable to The Ohio State University and include your Customer Number (CST- ) and Invoice Number (CI-; CIC-; CID-; CIR-) in the Memo line. Failure to include this information with your payment may result in processing delays.
Submit your check payment to:
The Ohio State University
PO Box 182905
Columbus, OH 43218
Finance charges and/or late fees may apply if payment is not received by the due date listed on your invoice. Please allow one-two weeks from the time you send your payment for it to post to your account. All mailed payments are processed within two-three business days of receipt at the Office of the University Bursar.
Purchase Orders:
Please note, coaches will need to open their purchase order prior to the invoice date. Invoices will be sent on dates: Oct. 30, 2024, and Dec. 13, 2024, depending on when the coach submits registration.
If your district requires a purchase order number on the invoice to process the payment, please reach out to the state director, Mariah Lesar, lesar.2@osu.edu, prior to the invoicing dates (Oct. 30, 2024 or Dec. 13, 2024) with your purchase order number.
W-9
A signed Ohio State W-9 form may be required by some school districts to initiate/process payment for your Science Olympiad registration. Please download and print the signed Ohio State W9 form and submit it with your registration invoice. DO NOT mail checks to the address listed on the signed W9.