As the cost of college continues to rise, it gets more and more difficult to pay for it. Students everywhere are worried that if they choose to pursue higher education, they’ll wind up being saddled with loan debt for life. Fortunately, as the need is rising, there is also an increasing number of financial aid options available. Buckeyes are lucky, and in Ohio, there’s a great number of scholarships and grants you can apply for. The Department of Higher Education funds many grants as well. Following is a list of 35 Ohio grants and scholarships, along with some details about how to apply.
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1. Ohio War Orphans Scholarship
This is one of the scholarships available through the Ohio Department of Higher Education, managed through the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship Board. The maximum award amount is given to students attending public institutions, while students attending private schools receive $5,667 a year. To qualify, you must be the child of a deceased or severely disabled Ohio armed forces veteran enrolled full-time in an undergraduate institution. You also need to be an Ohio resident attending an Ohio post-secondary institution, and under 25 years old. The deadline is July 1.
You can learn more about the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship here.
2. GNODA Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the Greater Northwest Ohio Diabetes Association Scholarship. The scholarship is intended to help diabetics afford school. To be eligible for the award, you need to be diabetic. You can be either a current high school or college student. You have to live in the GNODA service area, which includes Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Seneca, Wood, and Wyandot. It’s important to note that if you do not maintain at least a C GPA, you are required to reimburse them. The deadline is March 31.
You can learn more about the GNODA Scholarship here.
3. The ACT Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by The Ability Center of Greater Toledo. These awards are intended to provide local students with disabilities funds for college. In addition to having a documented disability, you need to live in Lucas, Wood, Fulton, Henry, Ottawa, Defiance or Williams County in Ohio. You also need to have at least a 3.0 GPA. The deadline for this application is March 31.
You can learn more about The ACT Scholarship here.
4. Thomas J. Seefred Trust Scholarship
This scholarship was established and is supported with funding from the Thomas J. Seefred Trust. The scholarship is given to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree, between the ages of 18 and 25, who suffer from juvenile diabetes. Current high school students are not eligible. You need to be a full-time student at a post-secondary institution who is in good academic standing. The deadline is May 1.
You can learn more about the Thomas J. Seefred Trust Scholarship here.
5. Communications Factory Annual Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the Communications Factory, which is a small marketing and advertising creative firm. To be eligible, you need to be a high school senior from the northeast region of Ohio. As part of the application, you’ll need to produce a video offering a solution to an environmental problem in your community. The deadline is April 1.
You can learn more about the Communications Factory Annual Scholarship here.
6. William D. Squires Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the William D. Squires Educational Foundation and was created for the sole purpose of providing financial support to Ohio high school seniors who need financial assistance. Applicants must be from Ohio but can be planning to attend a post-secondary program outside of Ohio. The deadline for this award is April 5.
You can learn more about the William D. Squires Scholarship here.
7. Department President’s Scholarship
This award is sponsored by the Ohio Department of the American Legion. The applicant for this award must either be an honorably discharged veteran or be the child of a veteran from one of the armed conflicts between WWI and Desert Storm. You also must be an Ohio resident, be sponsored by an American Legion Auxiliary Unit, and be entering your freshman year of college. The deadline is March 1.
You can learn more about the Department President’s Scholarship here.
8. AOTF Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. The scholarship aims to support people entering the field of Occupational Therapy. To qualify for this one you need to be currently enrolled and have completed at least one year of coursework in Occupational Therapy. The AOTF offers three different scholarships for Ohio residents. You’ll also need to get a recommendation from your program director. The deadline is October 29.
You can learn more about the AOTF Scholarship here.
9. Cyril W. Neff Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers. The scholarship is available to students applying at one of 16 select schools in Ohio. You must be an Ohio resident interested majoring in Engineering from Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, Geauga, Medina or Ashtabula County. You also need to be a graduating high school senior with at least a 3.0 GPA. The deadline is January 15.
You can learn more about the Cyril W. Neff Memorial Scholarship here.
10. Jay Sartini Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the Ashtabula County Business Exchange, which is a collection of business owners in the area. The scholarship is designed to help local students pay for college, in the hopes that they will return and contribute to the community. The award is giving to graduating high school seniors from Ashtabula County. The deadline is April 27.
You can learn more about the Jay Sartini Memorial Scholarship here.
11. William A. & Ann M. Brothers Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the American Welding Society and serves the purpose of encouraging and providing financial assistance to students who plan to pursue a career in welding. You qualify if you’re an undergraduate student who is enrolled full-time in a four-year program in welding or a welding-related field. Financial need is necessary. Preference is given to students from Ohio and students attending schools in Ohio. The deadline is February 15.
You can learn more about the William A. & Ann M. Brothers Scholarship here.
12. Captain Nicholas J. Rozanski Memorial Scholarship
This award is sponsored by the Nick Rozanski Memorial Foundation. To qualify for this award, you must be from Dublin and have played on the boys or girls soccer team. Additionally, you’ll need to have at least a 2.8 GPA. You can be planning to attend any accredited post-secondary institution, but you need to have a history of community service. The deadline is February 27.
You can learn more about the Captain Nicholas J. Rozanski Memorial Scholarship here.
13. Lee E. Schauer Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA. It’s intended for students that don’t always qualify for other scholarships. To be eligible, you need to be a high school senior planning on college. You’ve got to have at least a 2.5 GPA, but GPA otherwise has no weight in the selection process. You should be active physically and in your community. You don’t have to be a member of the YMCA, but students who are will get priority. The deadline is April 4.
You can learn more about the Lee E. Schauer Scholarship here.
14. Ohio College Opportunity Grant
This is an Ohio Department of Higher Education grant, established for the purpose of providing grant money to Ohio residents who have the most financial need. To qualify you will obviously need to be an Ohio resident with great financial need, but also to be enrolled at an Ohio school in an associate’s program, a bachelor’s program, or a Nursing program. You’ll automatically be considered if you submit your FAFSA by October 1.
You can learn more about the Ohio College Opportunity Grant here.
15. Brian Stoner Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is one of the many sponsored by the Fairfield County Foundation, which exists to serve local students. This scholarship is aimed at students who plan to pursue a career in the culinary arts and who are enrolled in a relevant program. The scholarship also aims to serve primarily people who are on the autism spectrum. Individuals who have been employed by Rule (3) are especially encouraged. The deadline is April 4.
You can learn more about the Brian Stoner Memorial Scholarship here.
16. The Harold K. Douthit Regional Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the Ohio Newspaper Association. The award is intended to encourage young people to major in fields related to the newspaper industry, including journalism, advertising, marketing and communications. To qualify you must be currently enrolled in a program related to this industry.You must have graduated from a high school in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Huron, Erie, Wood, Geauga, Sandusky, Ottawa or Lucas County. You also need to be a junior or senior at an Ohio college with at least a 3.0 GPA. The deadline is March 31.
You can learn more about the The Harold K. Douthit Regional Scholarship here.
17. The OPRA Foundation Academic Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association. It has three versions, depending on what your major is, but anyone can apply as long as their major is in some way relevant to parks and recreation. You must also be a resident of Ohio and be currently enrolled in a college or university in Ohio. You also need to have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 major GPA. The deadline is May 13.
You can learn more about The OPRA Foundation Academic Scholarship here.
18. Ruth M. Aikey Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the Aikey Foundation. The award is limited to students from one of twenty-two different cities in Ohio. You have to be a full-time student attending Kent State University and majoring in either Early Childhood Education or Middle Childhood Education. Financial need will also need to be demonstrated. You also need to have at least a 3.0 GPA. The deadline is April 1.
You can learn more about the Ruth M. Aikey Memorial Scholarship here.
19. The Anthony Muñoz Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the Anthony Muñoz Foundation. The scholarship is for local kids from the Ohio tri-state area. To be eligible for the award, you need to be a high school student from that area. You also need to be entering one of the eligible tri-state area schools. You need to have demonstrated financial need. You also have to have at least a 2.5 GPA, and you’ll have to have an interview. If you’re selected, you’ll need to attend the award ceremony too. The deadline is April 30.
You can learn more about the The Anthony Muñoz Scholarship here.
20. PHN Health Professionals Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the Primary Health Network Charitable Foundation. To qualify for this award, you need to be pursuing a degree or certificate in a field related to either Administrative or Clinical Healthcare. You must have at least a 3.0 GPA as well. Importantly, you have to be from one of the cities that has one of the PHN facilities. The deadline is March 31.
You can learn more about the PHN Health Professionals Scholarship here.
21. Herbert H. Antoinette V. Schlater Scholarship
This is one of many scholarships sponsored by the Shelby County Community Foundation, which was established as a way to collect and distribute legacy gifts to people in the community. To qualify, one of your parents needs to have been employed by either Sidney Electric Co. or Area Energy & Electric for at least two years. Preference is given to graduating high school seniors, but students of any age can apply. You need to have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 unless you’ve been out of school for two or more years. The deadline is March 15.
You can learn more about the Herbert H. Antoinette V. Schlater Scholarship here.
22. Zinggia Ohio Art Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by a duo of illustrators called Zinggia. To apply for this, you need to be a high school senior with at least a 3.0 GPA. You additionally need to be a resident of Ohio and to have a career interest in the arts. The award is for full-time study at a post-secondary institute which does not have to be in Ohio. You can be attending a two-year college, a four-year college, a technical school or an art school. The deadline is March 5.
You can learn more about the Zinggia Ohio Art Scholarship here.
23. Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund
This is one of the grants sponsored by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. If your college is a public institution you’ll receive full funding, but if you’re going to a private school you’ll receive $9,020. The grant is open to the children and spouses of peace officers (firefighters, police, park rangers, etc.) who were killed in the line of duty anywhere in the United States. You must be an Ohio resident, however, and be enrolled full-time in a participating Ohio post-secondary institution. Contact your college if they’re participating to find out details on how and when to apply.
You can learn more about the Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund here.
24. Donald E. and M. Jane Kemp Scholarship
This is another one of the scholarships sponsored by the Shelby County Community Foundation, which was established as a way to collect and distribute legacy gifts to people in the community. This scholarship is open to Sidney High School seniors residing in Shelby County. You need to have a high school GPA between 2.5 and 3.5 and be enrolled in an accredited college or university. Financial need and community service are significant factors in the decision. The deadline is March 15.
You can learn more about the Donald E. and M. Jane Kemp Scholarship here.
25. The Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by Ohio State University. This scholarship is given to at least one resident from each Ohio county. Applicants must demonstrate both academic merit and financial need to receive the award. To apply for this scholarship, just make sure to apply for admission to OSU by at least February 1 and file the FAFSA by at least February 15.
You can learn more about the The Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship here.
26. Cincinnati Pathways
This scholarship is offered through the University of Cincinnati. The scholarship is intended for students who have graduated from Cincinnati State Community College and received their associate degree within the last two years. You also must have had at least a 3.4 GPA. You’ll need to be admitted through Cincinnati Pathways and transfer directly from the associate program into your UC bachelor program. To apply, you need to submit your application for admission to UC early in your last semester of your associate program. The deadline if you plan to begin in the fall is July 1.
You can learn more about the Cincinnati Pathways here.
27. Oscar Ritchie Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by Kent State University. It’s available to incoming freshmen. To qualify, you need to have at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA. Additionally, this scholarship is only given to applicants who are members of a traditionally underrepresented population in higher education. You’ll be automatically considered for this award if you make sure to submit your application for admission by January 15.
You can learn more about the Oscar Ritchie Memorial Scholarship here.
28. Ohio Russ Impact Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by Ohio University. Incoming freshman students applying to the Engineering and Technology school are eligible for this award. You need to have had at least a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA, as well as demonstrated financial need. To apply for this award, you just need to be admitted by June 1.
You can learn more about the Ohio Russ Impact Scholarship here.
29. Elsie R. McClelland Davis Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is another one sponsored by the Fairfield County Foundation, which exists to serve local students. This scholarship is offered to students who have graduated from Amanda-Clearcreek High School in Ohio. To qualify you to need to demonstrate financial need. You also need to have gone to the Amanda-Clearcreek for at least three years. You have to be registered as a full-time student in an accredited post-secondary institution. The deadline is April 4.
You can learn more about the Elsie R. McClelland Davis Memorial Scholarship here.
30. Ohio EPA Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the Ohio Academy of the Sciences. You are eligible whether you’re attending a two-year program or a four-year program, but there are different instructions depending on which is the case. For both, however, you need to be an Ohio resident attending an Ohio college. You will also need to demonstrate your commitment to a career in the environmental sciences or environmental engineering. Apply in the final year of your program in the upcoming Fall. The Deadline is April 15.
You can learn more about the Ohio EPA Scholarship here.
31. Deputy Ethan Collins Scholarship
This scholarship is another one sponsored by the Fairfield County Foundation, which exists to serve local students. To qualify, you must be a graduate of a high school in Fairfield County. Students must be in an accredited school or academy studying to either begin or continue their education for a career in Law Enforcement. You can be in school either full or part-time. The deadline is April 4.
You can learn more about the Deputy Ethan Collins Scholarship here.
32. John C. Lincoln Memorial Scholarship
This award is sponsored by the American Welding Society and has the express purpose of providing financial resources for people who plan to pursue a career in welding-related careers. To qualify you to need to be an undergraduate student in a four-year bachelor’s program. You also need to have at least a 2.5 GPA and demonstrate financial need. The deadline is February 15.
You can learn more about the John C. Lincoln Memorial Scholarship here.
33. The Forever Buckeyes Program
This program is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. The program is part of the state budget, and so works with every public post-secondary institution in the state of Ohio. Typically students moving to Ohio for school have to wait 12 months before they qualify for in-state tuition, but through the Forever Buckeye Program out-of-state students will receive in-state tuition so long as they graduated from an Ohio, high school. Contact your school’s financial aid department to get into the program.
You can learn more about The Forever Buckeyes Program here.
34. Dr. Edward and Anne Link Fund
This is another one of the scholarships sponsored by the Shelby County Community Foundation, which was established as a way to collect and distribute legacy gifts to people in the community. Only Shelby County residents are qualified for this scholarship. You must have completed at least one year of post-secondary education before applying, and you need to have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. You also need to be pursuing a degree in the visual arts, performing arts or creative writing. The deadline is June 1.
35. The Tenfold Initiative Scholarship
This award is sponsored by LaineGabriel. This award is given to high school seniors from the region of Central Ohio. You must be enrolled or accepted at a college, university or art school with a declared major in a visual arts program. You can be enrolled either part-time or full-time. You’ll need to submit samples of your work. The deadline is June 20.
You can learn more about The Tenfold Initiative Scholarship here.
We’ve worked hard to include a variety of scholarship opportunities within our list. If you have any suggestions on additional scholarships, please feel free to leave them in the comments section.
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