Scholarships and Financial Aid

How can students maximize financial aid? 

• The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the first step  to be considered for any type of federal or state aid and most institutional aid (including some scholarships). The FAFSA is available on October 1 each year and The Ohio State University has a priority date. Students can still submit your FAFSA after that date, but be aware that filing earlier will provide students maximum aid consideration.

Read about the scholarships, grants, loans and part-time employment programs offered at Ohio State.

Read about how aid eligibility is determined.  

• Submit the Special Scholarships Application. The university offers hundreds of special-eligibility scholarships with a wide variety of eligibility criteria. Submit the Special Scholarships Application by the priority date. Scholarships have differing eligibility criteria, so it is important that students complete the application thoroughly so they are considered for all scholarships for which they may be eligible.

A detailed step-by-step guide can be found here. 

How can students apply for scholarships through the College of Engineering? 

The College of Engineering offers a wide variety of scholarship and funding opportunities to incoming freshmen as well as current Buckeye engineering students. Additional information can be found here or by contacting the College of Engineering Scholarships Office (eng-coe-scholarships@osu.edu). 

Merit Awards
Through the Special Scholarship Application, students can apply for all College of Engineering and major-specific scholarships based on academic performance, special interest, professionalism or leadership.

Research Awards
Students that choose to follow their own investigational instincts through Undergraduate Research may be eligible to earn funding. Engineering Advising can provide additional details regarding research and scholarship options.       

Need-Based Awards
Both the Special Scholarship Application and FAFSA must be on file for consideration of scholarships based on financial need.

Study Abroad Scholarships
Funds are available for students who participate in study abroad or international service-learning programs. Students who are participating in engineering-sponsored programs are automatically considered for need-based funding up to $1,500. 

External Awards
Occasionally, external scholarships are sent to our office for review. External scholarships are available through companies, individuals, or organizations outside of The Ohio State University. After a thorough evaluation, an email notification with scholarship details will be sent to eligible students. With any external opportunity, we caution student to conduct their own research to avoid scams.