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💰 Ohio State University-Columbus Merit Scholarships

Total Scholarships

Automatic

In-State Awards

$4,000-$7,000/yr

Out-of-State Awards

$4,000-$7,000/yr

Typical Requirements for Automatic Merit

2.8 GPA

Ohio State University-Columbus awards merit scholarships automatically on GPA and test scores, with no separate application. Awards run $4,000-$7,000/yr for out-of-state students. Eligibility starts at 2.8 GPA. Against tuition of $38,958, students receiving the largest award pay about $31,958 a year before other aid.

What you'd actually pay at Ohio State University-Columbus

Tuition & fees

$38,958

−

Largest annual award

$7,000

Students receiving it pay about

$31,958/yr

Tuition and fees only — housing (about $14,738), books and travel are extra. Awards must still be won and may carry renewal conditions. Need-based aid is separate and may reduce this further.

Official Scholarship Information

View complete details on Ohio State University-Columbus's website

Visit School Website →

Automatic merit scholarships at Ohio State University-Columbus — no separate application

4 awards granted on your admission application, based on GPA and test scores.

Helen P. Alkire Scholarship Fund

Award

$7,000/yr in-state

$7,000/yr out-of-state

* **Scholarship Amount**: $7000 each of four academic years, up to $28,000 total for each selected student * Number of Scholarships Awarded Annually**:** Two to Four

Eligibility: Type of Scholarship**:** Merit, but need is also considered * **Application Process**: There is no separate application process. All prospective students who have applied to audition for the program by February 1 are automatically considered. * Students must be both accepted by audition to the BFA program and admitted to the university in order to receive the Alkire award.

How to apply: ["no separate application", "audition by Feb. 1 (prospective students must apply to audition)", "admission to the university required"]

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Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship (AU18 cohort)

The Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship is a full cost of attendance scholarship awarded to 176 incoming members of the AU18 first-year class who come from across Ohio. This competitive scholarship is awarded to academically achieving students with demonstrated financial need, and is a part of President Drake’s Access and Affordability initiatives.

Eligibility: This competitive scholarship is awarded to academically achieving students with demonstrated financial need.

How to apply: ["Ohio residency (implied)", "file the FAFSA by February 1", "apply to the university (by deadline)"]

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Newark Transfer Merit Scholarship

In-State Requirements

GPA 2.8+

Incoming transfer students are considered for a Newark campus merit scholarship based on their admission to the university and submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligible students must transfer more than 15 credits with a cumulative 2.8 GPA or higher from all previous college coursework. No additional application is required.

Eligibility: Eligible students must transfer more than 15 credits with a cumulative 2.8 GPA or higher from all previous college coursework.

How to apply: ["transfer more than 15 credits", "cumulative 2.8 GPA or higher", "FAFSA (for need-based consideration)"]

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University-administered Merit Scholarships (general, incoming freshmen)

Incoming freshmen to the Columbus campus compete for university-funded merit-based scholarships.

Eligibility: Apply for admission by the early action deadline to receive consideration for most merit scholarships.

How to apply: ["apply for admission by early action (Nov. 1)", "complete application materials and test scores by Nov. 1"]

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Other scholarships at Ohio State University-Columbus (7)

These require a separate application, or the school does not publish their eligibility criteria.

Aida Cannarsa Snow Endowment Fund Scholarships

This fund provides tuition scholarships to undergraduate students who are pursuing a career in publishing or publication. Scholarships are need-based. Applicants must have a current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with Student Financial Aid.

Eligibility: Applicants must have a current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with Student Financial Aid.

How to apply: ["separate application", "FAFSA on file"]

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Clara Hilberg Teller Endowed Scholarship

The Clara Hilberg Teller Endowed Scholarship provides one or more scholarships to students who have a declared major in a humanities discipline and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

Eligibility: minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

How to apply: ["complete shared online application", "faculty letter of recommendation"]

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Dr. Mitchell Gregg Roe Scholarship Fund

Provides one or more scholarships to third or fourth-year students who are majoring in a natural and mathematical sciences discipline and have a minimum 2.5 grade point average.

Eligibility: minimum 2.5 grade point average.

How to apply: ["complete shared online application", "faculty letter of recommendation"]

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Eminence Fellows Program and Scholarship

The Eminence Fellows Program and Scholarship ... provides full cost of attendance at Ohio State for four years, plus a $3,000 enrichment grant accessible after the first year of successful study. This award requires an additional application and essay.

Eligibility: This award requires an additional application and essay.

How to apply: ["separate application", "essay"]

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Newark Incoming Freshman Merit Scholarship

$4,000/yr

Incoming freshmen may apply for a merit scholarship of $4,000 after admission to the Newark campus.

Eligibility: To be eligible, students must have a 3.6 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and have successfully completed at least two Advanced Placement (AP) or two College Credit Plus (CCP) courses.

How to apply: ["apply after admission (via ScholarshipUniverse)", "3.6 GPA", "two AP or two CCP courses"]

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Paul and Marnette Perry Scholarship Fund

This fund provides scholarships to undergraduate students who have a minimum 3.3 GPA. Preference for students majoring in the social and behavioral sciences, particularly political science, who demonstrate financial need but are not eligible to receive the federal Pell grant.

Eligibility: minimum 3.3 GPA.

How to apply: ["complete shared online application", "faculty letter of recommendation"]

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Shared Application - Arts & Sciences funds

Application for all of the scholarship funds listed below may be completed through one brief online application with the exception of the Aida Cannarsa Snow Endowment Fund.

Eligibility: The following funds are for undergraduate students who are currently enrolled on the Columbus campus and will continue to be enrolled in their undergraduate program during the next academic year.

How to apply: ["complete online application", "letter of recommendation (faculty)", "personal statement (500 words)"]

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Deadlines that affect merit consideration at Ohio State University-Columbus

Early Action

11/01/2025

Regular Decision

01/15/2026

Common questions about Ohio State University-Columbus scholarships

How much merit aid does Ohio State University-Columbus give?

Published awards range $4,000-$7,000/yr. Ohio State University-Columbus lists 11 merit scholarships in total.

What GPA or test scores do you need for a scholarship at Ohio State University-Columbus?

The lowest published threshold across automatic awards is 2.8 GPA. Individual scholarships set their own cutoffs.

Does Ohio State University-Columbus give merit scholarships to out-of-state students?

Yes. Awards for out-of-state students run $4,000-$7,000/yr.

Is there a full-ride scholarship at Ohio State University-Columbus?

Not a full ride. The largest published award covers about 18% of tuition.

Do you have to apply separately for merit scholarships at Ohio State University-Columbus?

1 of the published awards are granted automatically on your admission application, with no separate scholarship application.

When is the scholarship deadline at Ohio State University-Columbus?

Merit consideration usually follows the admission deadline, which is 11/01/2025. Confirm scholarship-specific dates with the financial aid office.

💡 Tip: Award amounts and cutoffs change year to year. Confirm current figures with Ohio State University-Columbus's financial aid office before making decisions — or check their scholarship page.

More on Ohio State University-Columbus

Admissions, cost & outcomes → 🏈 Athletics & sports 📍 All schools in OH 💰 Schools with automatic merit

Other OH schools with automatic merit scholarships

Art Academy of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH → Ashland University Ashland, OH → Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, OH → Capital University Columbus, OH → Central State University Wilberforce, OH → Defiance College Defiance, OH → Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH → Lourdes University Sylvania, OH →