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 2025 entering first-year class, the program underscores OHIO's commitment to support our students from admission through graduation and beyond.
First-year undergraduate students who are new to the Athens campus in fall 2025 are eligible for consideration for the OHIO Excellence Awards, which are awarded based on a variety of factors: academic achievement, individual contributions to the incoming first-year class or financial need.
How to Apply
Merit-Based Awards
- 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 incoming first-year undergraduate students who apply by the early action deadline of November 15 and earn admission will be considered automatically for OHIO Excellence Awards. Applicants who submit a complete application, including the application form and all required supporting materials, after November 15 are considered for all University scholarships, as availability permits.
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 federal, state and institutional aid, 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, February 15, 2025. Students will be considered for need-based awards on a rolling basis after the FAFSA first-priority date.
Merit-based award notifications will begin in December and continue on a rolling basis. Need-based financial aid offers will begin in March 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. Visit Completing the FAFSA for the most up to date information on OHIO's financial aid timeline.
The OHIO Excellence Awards for Fall 2025
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 2025
The OHIO Admission Promise Award recognizes the hard work and resilience of the fall 2025 entering class. This renewable $2,000 scholarship is awarded automatically to admitted students who applied by the rolling admission deadline of February 1, 2025 , have earned a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a strong college prep curriculum and whose FAFSA results are received by the February 15, 2025, first-priority date.
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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 nonresidents of Ohio for tuition purposes. Award amounts for nonresident 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 $14,158).
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OHIO Forward Scholarship
This supportive scholarship combines consideration of academic merit and financial need as demonstrated by FAFSA results received by the February 15, 2025, first-priority date, and award amounts vary.
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OHIO Forward Award
This supportive grant is based on financial need as determined by FAFSA results received by the February 15, 2025, first-priority date, and award amounts vary.
President's Opportunity Promise Award
An expansion to the OHIO Admission Promise, the President's Opportunity Promise Award for Fall 2025 is part of our ongoing commitment to access and affordability, and our commitment to serving the students of our region. This award will make it possible for qualifying Pell-eligible students in Athens County and all contiguous Ohio counties to attend Ohio University tuition-free. The scholarship will cover remaining Athens campus in-state tuition and mandatory fees after subtracting a student’s Pell Grant and other federal, state and institutional gift aid.
Other First-Year Scholarships
In addition to the OHIO Excellence Awards, OHIO offers scholarships that recognize talent in the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts. Certain highly competitive scholars programs include generous financial support, and additional scholarships for continuing students are available to recognize outstanding academic achievement at OHIO.
Students pursing graduate degrees or receiving full tuition (instructional fees) awards through Ohio University Educational Benefits, full athletic scholarships and Cutler 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.