The OHIO Admission Promise Award recognizes the hard work and resilience of the fall 2021 entering class in this most difficult year. This renewable $2,000 scholarship is awarded automatically to admitted students who met the extended early application deadline of February 1, 2021, have earned a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a strong college prep curriculum, and whose FAFSA results are received by February 1.
The OHIO Excellence Awards
The OHIO Excellence Awards
Ohio University students are achievers, dreamers, and innovators, and they’re forever crushing their goals. The OHIO Excellence Awards can help you reach your goals, too.
A set of renewable scholarships and grants designed to recognize the resilience, accomplishments, and diverse contributions of the fall 2021 entering first-year class, the new and expanded program underscores OHIO's commitment to support our students from admission through graduation and beyond.
First-year students who are new to the Athens campus of Ohio University in fall 2021 are eligible for consideration. Factors considered in awarding the OHIO Excellence Awards include academic achievement, financial need, and individual contributions to the incoming first-year class.
How to Apply
Merit-Based Awards
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The application for admission serves as the application for the merit-based awards. Merit consideration is based on academic achievement within a strong college prep curriculum as demonstrated by the cumulative grade point average (highest weighted or unweighted, recalculated to a 4.0 scale).
All applicants will receive full scholarship consideration, regardless of tests. In most cases, standardized test scores (ACT or SAT), if available, will be considered only if doing so increases a student’s award eligibility.
Need-Based Awards
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as the application for need-based assistance, and FAFSA results will be used to determine financial need. FAFSA results must be received in the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships by the first priority date of January 15, 2021. Students will be considered for need-based awards on a rolling basis after the first priority date.
Merit-based award notifications will begin in late December 2020 and continue on a rolling basis. Need-based award notifications will begin in mid-February 2021 and will continue on a rolling basis as well. OHIO may continue to revise awards using updated credentials as new information becomes available throughout the spring.
Introducing the OHIO Excellence Awards
Supportive. Generous. Renewable.
In this versatile scholarship program, most awards can be combined for generous scholarship packages. See the OHIO Excellence Awards Frequently Asked Questions for information about award combinations, eligibility, and renewal. And keep in mind that other federal, state, and institutional need-based aid may be available for FAFSA-filers.
OHIO Excellence Scholarship
This merit-based scholarship is the foundation of the OHIO Excellence Awards program. Designed to recognize the achievement and unlock the potential of a dynamic, diverse, and academically prepared entering first-year class at Ohio University. Award amounts vary up to $6,500 annually.
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OHIO Admission Promise Award for Fall 2021
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OHIO Trustee Award for Out-of-State Students
This award helps make OHIO more accessible for academically qualified students who are classified as non-residents of Ohio for tuition purposes. Award amounts for non-resident students vary according to academic merit.
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OHIO Premier Scholarship
Students who are offered admission and enroll in a degree program within our nationally distinctive Honors Tutorial College degree program are eligible for this scholarship, valued at full in-state tuition (currently $12,612).
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OHIO Forward Scholarship
This supportive scholarship combines consideration of academic merit and financial need as demonstrated by FAFSA results, and award amounts vary.
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OHIO Forward Award
This supportive grant is based on financial need as determined by FAFSA results, and award amounts vary.
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OHIO Russ Vision Award
Designed to recognize exceptional potential for success in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology, the OHIO Russ Vision Award is available to selected OHIO Excellence program recipients who are admitted to and enroll in a Russ College degree program beginning in fall 2021.
Other First-Year Scholarships
In addition to the OHIO Excellence Awards, OHIO provides scholarships that support diversity and access, special talents in areas such as fine arts, and continuing student success.
Students receiving full tuition (instructional fees) awards through Ohio University Educational Benefits, full athletic scholarships, Cutler Scholar awards, and Rankin Scholar awards are not eligible for OHIO Excellence Awards. Appalachian Scholars and Urban Scholars are eligible to be considered for the OHIO Forward Award only. Recipients of the OHIO Premier Scholarship or Templeton Scholars Award are eligible to be considered for the OHIO Trustee Award only. Recipients of the District of Columbia (D.C.) Tuition Assistance Grant or the OHIO Next Generation Award are not eligible for the OHIO Trustee Award unless participating in the DC-CAP Scholars Program. Additional restrictions may apply, and the program is subject to change. For renewal criteria, please refer to your scholarship award notification.