A scholarship is financial aid that does not have to be paid back. Scholarships have differing eligibility criteria and deadlines, so it is important that you read scholarship descriptions carefully.
Merit-based scholarships
Incoming freshmen to the Columbus campus compete for university-funded merit-based scholarships. Apply for admission by the early action deadline to receive consideration for most merit scholarships.
Special-eligibility scholarships
The university offers hundreds of scholarships with a wide variety of eligibility criteria. To apply each year, file the FAFSA and create a profile in ScholarshipUniverse by the priority date of February 15.
ScholarshipUniverse
ScholarshipUniverse is a scholarship-matching tool that simplifies the process of finding and applying for scholarships from Ohio State and more than 10,000 external sources, such as churches, professional, civic or service organizations, private foundations, the military, and more.
How it works:
Once you get your Ohio State username and password — which you activate after you apply for admission — just log in to ScholarshipUniverse and create your account. Based on your profile and your current academic status at Ohio State, you are matched with scholarships that you might qualify for. Some scholarships require additional applications, documents or references. Be sure to complete all required steps. Check your ScholarshipUniverse dashboard for important status updates. For more: go.osu.edu/scholarshipfaqs.
Note: Federal regulations require that external scholarships be considered part of a student's overall financial aid package, which cannot exceed the cost of attendance. Once a payment from an external scholarship is applied, your financial aid may be revised. Learn about Ohio State's process for disbursing external funds in the External Aid Resource Guide.
Departmental scholarships
Some Ohio State colleges and departments offer scholarships or grants not included in ScholarshipUniverse. Contact your college office or review departmental scholarships for details.
STEP fellowship
Second-year students on the Columbus campus may participate in STEP (Second-Year Transformational Experience Program) and receive a STEP Fellowship. Read more about STEP.
Regional campuses
Regional campus students can explore additional scholarship opportunities too. Lima and Marion students should apply through
ScholarshipUniverse. Students attending Mansfield, Newark and ATI can find scholarship information on the campus website or by contacting the financial aid office on your regional campus.
Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program
The Choose Ohio First (COF) scholarship is a state-funded award offered by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE). The scholarship is designed to significantly strengthen Ohio’s competitiveness within Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) disciplines. ODHE provides funding to Ohio State to support students in innovative academic programs and encourage the economic strength of the State.
The Ohio House of Science and Engineering (OHSE) invites you to apply to the COF scholarship program. Visit the OHSE website to learn about COF scholarships opportunities including information about requirements and application materials for students on Columbus, Lima, Mansfield, Marion, and Lima campuses.
To get the most from your scholarships, be sure to review our tips on managing your financial resources while in college.