The Ohio State University is a public research University in Columbus, Ohio. Established in 1870, it ranks as the top 12 public research university and No. 3 nationally in industry-sponsored research.
Tuition at Ohio state can quickly build up to $60,000 a year. Understandably, this puts it out of reach of many students.
Hopefully, the full and partial scholarships offered by the University will provide a pathway for some students to achieve their goal of quality education without breaking the bank.
This article will focus on 3 partial and 2 full-ride merit-based scholarships that are available at Ohio state University.
How to get a scholarship at OSU?
Freshmen admitted to the Columbus campus for autumn semester are automatically considered for most merit awards if their complete admission application is received by Nov 1 early action deadline. This means that no separate application is required.
Requirements for Ohio state merit scholarships
- Letters of recommendation
- High school transcripts
- Resume
- Cover letters
- The FAFSA form
- Personal statement
General eligibility criteria for merit-based scholarships
- You must be enrolled full time at Ohio State University.
- You must be pursuing your first undergraduate degree
- You must maintain the minimum GPA requirement specific to each of the scholarships by the time of evaluation. If the minimum GPA is met, your scholarship will be renewed automatically for up to eight semesters.
- Other eligibility requirements may exist for specific programs and will be discussed below
- All incoming freshmen of US origin entering the university fall semester are considered for the merit-based awards.
- International freshmen are ineligible for these merit scholarships.
Note that scholarships administered by the University are meant for incoming full time freshmen as part of the admission process. Attending another institution could mean forfeiting the scholarship.
Any questions regarding eligibility for your scholarship after attending another institution, please contact Buckeye Link at 614-292-0300 or buckeyelink@osu.edu.
5 available merit-based scholarships
Ohio State has five merit-based scholarships.
Two of these are partial, with a four-year value of $54,000 and $12,000, respectively. They cover some of the students’ education expenses. The remaining three are full-ride scholarships and they cover all the total expenses for the cost of attendance.
Let’s first look at the partial scholarships that are available in the University.
Ohio state partial scholarships
| Scholarship name | Scholarship information | Additional criteria | Award amount | How to apply |
| National Buckeye Scholarship for non-Ohio Resident | This scholarship is meant for non-Ohio residents (U.S. citizens or permanent residents) | Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5Must be highly competitive and show outstanding academic record | $13,500 for four years totaling $54,000 | Applicants who apply to the university by November 1 will automatically be considered. |
| Maximus, Provost or Trustees Scholarship | This scholarship is meant for Ohio and non-Ohio residents (U.S. citizens or permanent residents) | Student must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2Student must show outstanding academic record | $1,000–$3,000 ($4,000–$12,000 four-year value). | Applicants who apply to the university by November 1 will automatically be considered. |
Ohio state full-ride scholarships
| Scholarship name | Scholarship information | Eligibility requirements | Award amount | How to Apply |
| Eminence Fellows Program and Scholarships | This scholarship program is one of Ohio state premier awards. All U.S citizens and permanent residents are encouraged to apply. Just as with other Ohio State University scholarships, it is highly competitive and selective. | All applicants must apply to the Ohio State University Honors Program.Fellows are selected based on outstanding academic excellence, and all majors are encouraged to apply. There is no “typical” Eminence Fellow.Recipients are selected based on outstanding academic excellence, demonstrated commitment to leadership, service and characterFinalists are selected based on the strength of their Common Application, a separate Eminence essay and a video introduction.Student must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.4/3.5 depending on the program of study | Full cost of attendance at Ohio State for eight semesters of full-time enrollment, plus an enrichment grant valued at up to $3,000 accessible after the first year of successful study. | Apply for admission in Ohio State before the early action of November 1Apply for honors on the application programComplete the Eminence separate application,which includes the Eminence Essay and a video introduction via an unlisted YouTube by November 14 |
| Morrill Scholarship Program (MSP) | This scholarship is also one of Ohio State premier awards. Only U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents of the United States can apply for this scholarship. | It is awarded on a competitive basis to students admitted to the Columbus campus for the autumn semester following high school graduationRecipients are required to be academically talented and be actively engaged in diversity-based leadership, social justice and service. | This scholarship has three categories of awards, namely Distinction (the value of the cost of attendance), Prominence (the value of in-state tuition plus the nonresident surcharge for nonresidents), and Excellence (the value of in-state tuition for Ohio residents). | Apply for admission in the Ohio State before the early action deadline of November 1,Indicate interest in MSP on the application and complete the MSP essay. Be sure to include leadership and diversity involvement on the Activity List. |
| The Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship | The Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship is awarded to 176 Ohio students each year, with an attempt made to award two students from each county. | Scholarship is awarded to students who are Pell-eligible and demonstrate academic merit. Students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 for scholarships to be renewed. | Full cost of attendance. | Apply for Ohio State admission before the early action deadline of November 1 and complete the FAFSA. |
Takeaways
Ohio State scholarships are highly competitive and selective, as it should be for a prestigious place of learning.
If you want to secure one of these scholarships, don’t sleep on this information.
To your success!
