If You Are ...
... an Enrolled Undergraduate Student (Including Students in Undergraduate Professional Programs)
If you are currently attending any Ohio State campus, you can file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Application for Special Scholarships online. These applications are available after January 1, and must be completed and submitted by March 1. Note: over 90% of applicants now file their FAFSA's electronically, and we strongly encourage you to file online. If you need to file a paper FAFSA, however, you may print it from the Department of Education's website.
You may apply for need-based scholarships and grants, cooperative scholarship housing, loans, and the Federal Work-Study program by filing the FAFSA. Each college has a number of special scholarships available only to applicants in that college or department; contact your college office for details and application procedures. The Application for Special Scholarships is required if you are not filing the FAFSA but want to be considered for academic-only scholarships, or if you are a FAFSA filer who wants to be considered for special-eligibility scholarships.
Currently enrolled students who attend another institution on a transient basis and receive aid must report the amounts received to our office as soon as possible. Receiving aid at another school may affect your financial aid eligibility at Ohio State. In come cases, you may be billed for money you are no longer eligible to receive. You can report aid received at another school via the Transfer Student Aid Report, or you may submit a written statement detailing the type of aid and amount received.
... an Entering Freshman or Undergraduate Transfer Student
Please review our web site for information on all forms of aid as you consider applying for admission. Some scholarships can only be awarded if students identify themselves to the Office of Student Financial Aid as being eligible. To review eligibilty criteria for these scholarships and to apply, please see Applying for Scholarships. Note that some special eligibility scholarships require the FAFSA and/or a personal statement. More documentation may be required later. See Important Dates & Deadlines for priority deadline dates.
Additionally, you will need to file the FAFSA to apply for need-based programs and state and federal aid programs. Any student can complete the FAFSA on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. We encourage you to apply online. The FAFSA can also be obtained from your high-school counselor or, for transfer students, from the financial aid office of your current college or university.
Although you may not be informed of your admission decision prior to your financial aid priority deadline, you should, however, still apply for financial aid by that priority deadline. While the priority deadline for transfer students is June 25, it is strongly recommended that you apply as early as possible. You must apply by March 1 to be considered for special-eligibility scholarships.
Transfer students who apply for aid will be asked no sooner than summer to complete a Transfer Student Aid Report to determine aid received for the current academic year at the previous institution. The form must be submitted even if no aid was received. Please note: the as part of the verification process, the due date is different from the priority application deadline date.
Aid received at another university will be verified via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). If the information on your Transfer Student Aid Report does not match what is reported on NSLDS, an adjustment to your Ohio State aid may be necessary.
... a Continuing Education (CEd) Student or Graduate Student in a Non-Degree-Granting Program
If you are enrolled at least half-time in CEd (6 hours) or a graduate non-degree-granting program (5 hours) and you are taking courses necessary for acceptance in an Ohio State program leading to certification or a degree (undergraduate, graduate, or professional), you can be considered for Federal Direct Loans, the University Loan, and some scholarships. See loans for maximum loan borrowing and eligibility limits. You must submit verification that you are taking courses required to be admitted to a degree or certification program at Ohio State. You can get a copy of the Non-Degree-Granting Program Certification Form and the the Verification of Previous Non-Degree-Granting Program Aid Form from the OSFA website. You may also obtain both forms from the Student Consolidated Service Center.
... a Graduate Student
You may obtain information about fellowships and assistantships through the Graduate School or your academic department. Information on Short-Term and Long-Term University Loans, as well as Federal Direct Loans, is available at the Office of Student Financial Aid. Employment and Federal Work-Study opportunities are also administered through OSFA. There is a limited number of scholarships open to graduate students.
File the FAFSA if you want to be considered for Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study and University Loans. File the Application for Special Scholarships to be considered for any special-eligibility scholarships for which you may be eligible. These applications are available after January 1 and must be completed and submitted by March 1 for consideration for scholarships and Federal Work-Study.
Although you may not be informed of your admission decision prior to the financial aid priority deadline, you should, however, still apply for financial aid by that priority deadline.
... a Professional Student
If you are currently in one of the professional colleges or schools (Law, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Optometry, or Veterinary Medicine), you can file the FAFSA and the Application for Special Scholarships online. These applications are available after January 1 and must be completed and submitted by March 1.
If you are applying for admission to one of these professional colleges or schools, you may not be informed of your admission decision prior to the financial aid priority deadline. You should, however, still apply for financial aid by that priority deadline. Applicants are usually notified by June of their financial aid awards for the upcoming year.
... an International Student
Eligibility for most financial aid requires that you be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. If you are entering the country on student visa, you should contact the Office of International Affairs, The Ohio State University, 100 Oxley Hall, 1712 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1230, to find out about financial aid resources.
... a Student-Athlete
The Office of Student Financial Aid assists student-athletes through Athletics Aid Administration. If you are a student-athlete, you may contact the Office of Student Financial Aid with specific questions regarding your eligiblity.
Institutional financial aid and awards from outside sources may count in your or the team's full grant-in-aid limit. All student-athletes must report all scholarships and awards from their high schools, booster clubs, communities or other outside sources to Athletics Aid Administration before each school year begins. Student-athletes should also discuss any outside awards with their head coach to be certain their coach is aware of aid that could affect the team grant-in-aid limit.
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