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Cara Goldstone Image Written By: Cara Goldstone | Edited By: Alyssa Schulz | Updated: May 30, 2026

Ohio Scholarships

Key takeaways:

  • Attending college in the state of Ohio is typically more expensive than in other U.S. states.
  • There are scholarships specifically for Ohio residents and students; their criteria may vary based on financial need, minority status, year in school, and other factors.
  • Scholarships.com automatically matches students with all the awards for which they are eligible, including Ohio scholarships.

In 2024, the average cost to attend college in Ohio was about 9% more expensive than the national average, which means that Ohio students have to spend thousands of dollars more than the average American student on their education.

Thankfully, though, there are many scholarships available for students in Ohio to ease this burden; keep reading to see a list of Ohio-specific awards with upcoming deadlines and info on how to win them.

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The 25 Best Ohio Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines in 2026

What are Ohio scholarships?

Ohio scholarships are financial aid awards for students who either reside in or are pursuing higher education in the state of Ohio. Some Ohio scholarships may require that students hail from a particular region of Ohio whereas others require students to attend a particular school in Ohio. These factors and many more vary depending on the scholarship.

The majority of Ohio scholarships available are targeted to high school seniors. However, there are countless awards for students in other grades as well. Opportunities for nontraditional and adult students are also available; it all depends on the scholarship.

How to apply for Ohio scholarships

The best way to find and apply for Ohio scholarships is to sign up for a free account on Scholarships.com. When you make an account, we use your demographic information to automatically match you with applicable scholarships, including those for students in Ohio.

Scholarships.com lists the steps necessary to apply to any given scholarship within the description of the award. Once you’ve matched with Ohio scholarships, all you need to do is follow the instructions in the description to apply. You can even sort your matches by award value or deadline to better prioritize your application process.

What are the best Ohio scholarships?

In general, the best scholarship for any particular student will be the one they have the highest chance of winning. To determine what scholarship is best for you, you should narrow down your search as much as possible. Looking for local scholarships is a great way to start; from there, you can narrow your search further based on your personal attributes.

For example, Ohio veterans and active duty National Guard Members may qualify for the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program (ONGSP), a prestigious full-tuition award that can be applied to almost any degree-granting program or institution. Because the eligibility criteria for the ONGSP is restricted to service members in Ohio, its applicant pool is relatively small, and thus it is a great low-competition opportunity for eligible students.

High school seniors in rural areas of Ohio might find that the best scholarship for them is the Ohio Township Association Scholarship. Awarded to 5 high school seniors in Ohio townships each year, this scholarship is worth $1,500 and requires attendance at local government meetings to be eligible. Ohio students interested in public policy and community service are a great fit for this specialized award.

Frequently asked questions about Ohio scholarships:

What are the best scholarships for current college students in Ohio?

Whether you are an experienced graduate student or just beginning college, it can be difficult to narrow down your scholarship search. One way to find the best scholarship for you is to look for awards particular to your major, especially if you are studying an obscure or less-funded subject.

For instance, the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Foundation awards the Jody Stowers Scholarship to undergraduates and graduate students with declared majors in related fields at Ohio institutions. It is worth $1,000 and may be the perfect fit for Ohio college students interested in recreation, parks, and leisure studies.

Are there scholarships for minorities in Ohio?

There are all kinds of Ohio scholarships targeted to minority groups, including those based on race and ethnicity, LGBTQ+ identity, neurodivergence, and many more. Searching for Ohio scholarships based on your minority status is a good way to narrow your scholarship search.

For instance, there are countless Ohio scholarships specifically for Black and Hispanic students. The ALCOA Fund Scholarship awards $20,000 to a Black or Hispanic graduate of certain Cleveland schools. It is renewable for up to 4 years and requires financial need to apply.

Another minority-based Ohio scholarship is the Ability Center of Greater Toledo Scholarship. High school seniors, college students, and graduate students with disabilities in specified Ohio counties are eligible to apply for this $5,000 scholarship.

What are the best local scholarships for students in Ohio?

Any scholarship whose eligible applicants must reside in or attend college in a specific area is considered a local scholarship; Ohio scholarships fall into this category. However, there are also even more localized scholarships, such as those targeted to denizens of a particular city or county.

If you attend high school in the Greater Cincinnati area of Ohio, for example, you may be the perfect candidate for the Lisa Kaminski Memorial Scholarship. Worth $3,000, this award is open to graduating high school seniors in Cincinnati who aim to study a STEM field.

What scholarships does Ohio State University offer?

Ohio State University is a popular choice for students hoping to attend college in Ohio, so there are many scholarships offered to OSU-enrolled students in particular. These are considered institutional scholarships since they are awarded directly by the school to its own students.

If you are looking for a full-tuition scholarship at OSU, you can apply for the Stamps Eminence Scholarship Program. To qualify, you must apply to OSU’s honors programs in advance of the early action deadline, then fill out the Stamps Eminence application. The process is extensive and renewal of the scholarship requires maintenance of good academic standing, but the opportunity is worth the effort.

Do I need to have financial need to win an Ohio scholarship?

While many scholarships are specifically aimed towards students with financial need, there are plenty of solely merit-based scholarships available to students in Ohio as well, such as the $2,000 Ohio Counties Scholarship. Any college student studying public service at an Ohio institution is qualified to apply whether they have financial need or not.

Regardless of your financial circumstances, you should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you are able. You are not required to take out any loans that your FAFSA submission may allow you to, and it may reveal that you are eligible for need-based aid even if you don’t think you qualify.