STATE OF OHIO FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS
For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:
State Grants and Scholarships Department
P.O. Box 182452
Columbus, OH 43218-2452
Local: (614) 466-7420
Toll Free: (888) 833-1133
FAX: (614) 752-5903
The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of the state of Ohio.
Ohio Academic Scholarship
What is it?The Ohio Academic Scholarship Program provides competitive, merit-based financial assistance to the state's most academically outstanding high school graduates who enroll for full-time undergraduate study in Ohio institutions of higher education. This program provides an incentive for students to remain in Ohio.
Who is Eligible?
Each year, at least one Ohio Academic Scholarship is awarded to a student from each participating chartered high school in the state that submits an electronic application form by February 23rd. Eligibility for these awards is determined by a selection formula which considers a student's high school grade-point average and scores from the ACT Assessment.
How much aid is available?
Scholarships provide $2,205 each year for up to four years of study.
How do I apply?
Application is made through the student's high school Guidance Office after Jan 1.
Is there a deadline?
The deadline is February 23rd of each year.
Nurse Education Assistance Loan Program (NEALP)
What is it?The Nurse Education Assistance Loan Program (NEALP) provides financial assistance to Ohio students enrolled for at least half-time study (or accepted for enrollment) in an approved Ohio nurse education program. NEALP provides funding for nurses who intend to serve as instructors or students who intend to serve as nurses after graduation.
Effective January 1st, 2008, the Nurse Education Assistance Loan Program will no longer have two application periods. Students may apply for NEALP funding between January 1st and July 15th each year. To be considered for NEALP funding during the 2008-09 school year, all applications must be submitted and completed by July 15th.
Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG)
What is it?The Ohio College Opportunity Grant Program (OCOG) provides need-based tuition assistance to Ohio students from low to moderate-income families. This program is a result of the merging of the Part-Time Instructional Grant and the Ohio Instructional Grant, with the intent to increase access to higher education. By raising the current household income ceiling of $39,000 in the OIG program to $75,000 in the OCOG program, more families will receive aid for their efforts to gain higher education.
Who is Eligible?
For the 2007-2008 academic year, first- and second-year students enrolled as full-time, three-quarters-time, half-time or one-quarter-time may be eligible to receive the award. Awards are based upon EFC (Expected Family Contribution). The maximum EFC is $2190.
How much aid is available?
Maximum award amounts for full-time enrollment for the 2007-2008 academic year will be; Public - $2,496, Private - $4,992 and Proprietary - $3,996.
How do I apply?
Students apply for OCOG benefits by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Where do I get the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is also available from your high school guidance office or college Financial Aid Office.
Is there a deadline?
The application deadline is October 1 of each year.
The Ohio Student Choice Grant Program
What is it?The Ohio Student Choice Grant Program provides financial assistance to full-time students enrolled for baccalaureate study in Ohio private non-profit colleges and universities. This program assists in narrowing the tuition gap between the state's public and private non-profit colleges and universities. Eligibility for the Student Choice Grant is not based on need or academic merit.
Who is eligible?
Recipients must be Ohio residents.
How much aid is available?
The amount of the Student Choice Grant for the 2007-2008 academic year is $660.
How do I apply?
No state application is required for this program. Please contact the Financial Aid Office of the Ohio private non-profit college or university you are interested in attending.
Ohio War Orphans Scholarship
What is it?The Ohio War Orphans Scholarship Program awards tuition assistance to the children of deceased or severely disabled Ohio veterans who served in the armed forces during a period of declared war or conflict.
Who is eligible?
To receive War Orphans Scholarship benefits, a student must be enrolled for full-time undergraduate study at an eligible Ohio college or university. Ohio residency is required. Applicants must be under the age of 25.
How much aid is available?
Scholarship benefits cover all instructional and general fee charges at two and four-year public institutions and a portion of these charges at eligible private colleges and universities.
How do I apply?
Application is made to the Ohio Board of Regents/State Grants and Scholarships Department.
Where do I get an application?
Applications are available from the Ohio Board of Regents/State Grants and Scholarships Department, high school guidance offices, veterans service offices, and college Financial Aid Offices.
Is there a deadline?
The application deadline is July 1 of each year.
Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund
What is it?This program provides tuition assistance to the children and spouses of peace officers, fire fighters and certain other safety officers who are killed in the line-of-duty, anywhere in the United States.
Who is Eligible?
Recipients must be Ohio residents.
Can I enroll part-time?
Recipients may enroll for full-time or part-time study at any participating Ohio post-secondary institution.
How much aid is available?
The Fund provides benefits which cover full instructional and general fee charges at public colleges and universities and a portion of these costs at private post-secondary institutions.
How do I apply?
Interested students should contact the Ohio Board of Regents State Grants and Scholarships Department.
Regents Graduate/Professional Fellowship Program
What is it?This program provides merit-based financial assistance to Ohio baccalaureate graduates who enroll for graduate or professional study at participating Ohio colleges and universities.
Who is Eligible?
Students are nominated by their undergraduate colleges and universities on the basis of evidence which indicates strong academic achievement and a high potential to succeed in a graduate or professional program of study. Generally, at least one Regents Graduate/Professional Fellowship is awarded to a student from each nominating undergraduate institution.
How much aid is available?
Fellowships provide $3,500 each year for two years of full-time graduate/professional study.
How do I apply?
Interested students should contact a college Financial Aid Office, the college/university graduate facility or the Ohio Board of Regents State Grants and Scholarships Department.
Is there a deadline?
The deadline is March 1 of each year.
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program
What is it?This program awards financial assistance to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement in high school. Recipients are selected on the basis of class rank, grade point average, scores achieved on either the SAT or ACT assessments and other curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Who is Eligible?
The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship are awarded equally across each of Ohio 's congressional districts and are renewable for up to four years. Chartered Ohio high schools may nominate graduating seniors through the Ohio Department of Education. Students scoring highly on the General Education Development (GED) Test are also eligible to apply. The nomination period is announced annually and is from mid-March through the end of April.
How much aid is available?
Each selected recipient may receive up to $1,500 each year for up to four years of undergraduate studies, contingent upon the continued funding by the federal government. The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship program is wholly federally-funded program.
For more information contact the Ohio Department of Education at 614-466-2650.
Student Workforce Development Grant Program
What is it?The Student Workforce Development Grant Program provides tuition assistance to Ohio students.
Who is Eligible?
Ohio students enrolled for full-time study in eligible Ohio private career schools (also known as proprietary schools). Students must be pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree and must not have been enrolled full-time in a private career school prior to July 1, 2000. Eligibility is not based on financial need.
How much aid is available?
The annual award for the 2004-2005 academic year is $300.
How do I apply?
No state application is required for this program. Please contact the Financial Aid Office of the Ohio private career (proprietary) school you are interested in attending.
State Financial Aid Information
Find state financial aid information for the specific state that you live in. Find contact information for your local federal aid office, and get details about specific federal aid programs in your area.
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