OHIO Regional Promise Award for Fall 2025

The OHIO Regional Promise Award is an automatic four-year renewable scholarship program covering up to the full cost of regional campus tuition and mandatory fees for Pell-eligible students with a minimum 3.0 high school GPA enrolling at one of OHIO’s regional campuses for the fall 2025 semester as a full-time, first-year, degree-seeking student. A “last dollar” program, the scholarship will cover any gap between the cost of regional tuition and mandatory fees and what Pell Grant and/or federal, state, or other institutional aid do not cover.

1. Submit your OHIO application for your regional campus of choice by December 1, 2024.
2. Send your high school transcript showing that you’ve earned a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA by February 15, 2025. 
3. Submit the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by OHIO's first-priority date, February 15, 2025, and qualify for the federal Pell Grant. 
4. Enroll in fall 2025 as a full-time, first-year, degree-seeking student on one of OHIO’s regional campuses. 
   

Both Ohio residents and non-Ohio residents are eligible for the OHIO Regional Promise Award and One OHIO Scholarship. The OHIO Regional Promise Award will cover the required non-resident fee for students who are not Ohio residents for tuition purposes. Note: Residents of Kentucky and West Virginia may be eligible for Ohio residency for tuition purposes .

The OHIO Regional Promise Award is available to eligible students pursuing any of our undergraduate degree programs at any OHIO regional campus. The award is renewable for four years (eight semesters) for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree, and two years (four semesters) for students pursuing an associate degree. 

Yes! If you’ve already applied to an OHIO regional campus for fall 2025, make sure your FAFSA results are sent to OHIO by the first-priority date, February 15, 2025, to be considered for the OHIO Regional Promise Award.

Yes, of course! Even if you don’t qualify for the OHIO Regional Promise Award, we look forward to receiving your application and your FAFSA. All of OHIO’s regional campuses offer an open admission policy for high school graduates. Admission is based on an official high school transcript or equivalent. Federal, state or institutional financial aid may be available, depending on your FAFSA results.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as the application for all federal, state and institutional financial aid at Ohio University. Students can file their FAFSA online at studentaid.gov . The FAFSA is not required for many merit-based scholarships at OHIO, but students must file a FAFSA each year to be eligible for the renewable OHIO Regional Promise Award and the One OHIO Scholarship. Your FAFSA must be submitted by the first-priority date, February 15, 2025, to be considered for the 2025 OHIO Regional Promise Award.

The OHIO Regional Promise Program is intended to cover any remaining gap between federal, state and institutional grants/scholarships and regional campus tuition and mandatory fees. Families are not obligated to accept any other types of financial aid that might be offered, including loans.

Your application for admission to a regional campus also serves as your application for University scholarships. Completing the FAFSA allows you to be considered for all other types of financial aid.

Yes! Any outside scholarships you receive will not impact your eligibility for the OHIO Regional Promise. 

Typically, students who are admitted to both Athens and a regional campus will be offered financial aid based on anticipated enrollment on the Athens campus. Financial aid offers, which will be mailed beginning in March, will display the campus and housing assumptions used in determining the financial aid provided. If a student would like to find out what types and amounts of financial aid are available at a regional campus, please email financial.aid@ohio.edu . 

Students who have earned a Regional Promise Award on any regional campus may pursue coursework offered by any of OHIO’s regional campuses.

Eligibility for the OHIO Regional Promise Award requires full-time enrollment at one of OHIO’s regional campuses for fall 2025. The One OHIO Scholarship is available for Regional Promise Award recipients who wish to relocate to Athens after at least one year at the regional campus. Qualified students interested in attending the Athens campus in fall 2025 may be eligible for OHIO Admission Promise consideration, as well as other scholarships and financial aid specific to that campus.

Not at this time. The OHIO Regional Promise Award is available to students enrolling as a full-time, first-year, degree-seeking student on one of OHIO’s regional campuses beginning in fall 2025. Transfer applicants who are ready for a change in their higher education plans are welcome to apply to OHIO and will be eligible for consideration for any transfer scholarships available at their campus. For need-based financial assistance, transfer students should complete the FAFSA.

Eligibility for the OHIO Regional Promise Program is limited to students who are eligible to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students on F-1 or J-1 visas are not eligible to file a FAFSA.

The OHIO Regional Promise Award may not be combined with some University scholarships, full-tuition Employee/Dependent Educational Benefits, or any other award valued at full tuition.

The OHIO Regional Promise applies to fall 2025 applicants at this time. We’ll share more information about application requirements for the 2026 application cycle next academic year. Join our mailing list to stay informed!

The OHIO Regional Promise Award is renewable for up to four consecutive years of undergraduate study (two semesters per year) at OHIO’s regional campuses for students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree. The award is renewable for up to two consecutive years of undergraduate study (two semesters per year) at OHIO’s regional campuses for students enrolled in an associate degree. The OHIO Regional Promise Award requires enrollment in a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester. For renewal, recipients must maintain an Ohio University cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in Ohio University coursework and file the FAFSA annually by the published first-priority date. Continued eligibility is contingent upon continued qualification for the federal Pell Grant, which may vary in value annually. Please note: For fall 2025, the first-priority date is February 15, 2025.

The One OHIO Scholarship replaces remaining renewal eligibility for the OHIO Regional Promise Award. Across both programs, the awards are renewable for a combined maximum of four consecutive years (eight semesters excluding summers) of full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate study. The One OHIO Scholarship requires enrollment in a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester on the Athens campus. For renewal, recipients must maintain an Ohio University cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in Ohio University coursework and file the FAFSA annually by the published first priority deadline (February 15, 2025 for fall 2025 enrollment). Continued eligibility is contingent upon continued qualification for the federal Pell Grant, which may vary in value annually.

Your regional campus Student Services office can assist you in completing an Intent to Relocate form. While relocation typically is possible for any semester, eligibility for the One OHIO Scholarship requires completing one full year (two semesters) on the regional campus.