Choose Ohio First Scholarship

Choose Ohio First (COF) is Ohio’s STEM scholarship program, directing state funds to colleges and universities with approved projects to recruit and graduate more students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and STEM teacher preparation. It is not a single state application with one uniform award amount: each campus selects cohorts and sets awards within its grant. Institutions must also offer applied learning, such as internships, co-ops, or research.

For 2026–27, Ohio released the FY27 institutional funding round, with college proposals due October 1, 2026; campus awards were expected in November. That was an institutional deadline, not a student application date to ODHE. Students should verify whether their campus, major, and cohort are supported by an award, then ask the college’s scholarship or STEM office about GPA, residency or citizenship, course load, and selection.

The program has statutory minimum annual award levels, but individual amounts can vary significantly by project and campus funding. Do not treat an amount published in one college’s proposal as a statewide rate for every student. Ask whether your CIP-coded major is approved, what internships or work-based learning are required, how renewal works, and whether funds are guaranteed each year. ODHE’s public portal posts awards and resources; the campus office confirms student applications and individual packages.

Who it serves and what it can cover: Choose Ohio First (COF) is Ohio’s STEM scholarship program, directing state funds to colleges and universities with approved projects to recruit and graduate more students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and STEM teacher preparation. It is not a single state application with one uniform award amount: each campus selects cohorts and sets awards within its grant. Institutions must also offer applied learning, such as internships, co-ops, or research. For 2026–27, Ohio released the FY27 institutional funding round, with college proposals due October 1, 2026; campus awards were expected in November. That was an institutional deadline, not a student application date to ODHE. Students should verify whether their campus, major, and cohort are supported by an award, then ask the college’s scholarship or STEM office about GPA, residency or citizenship, course load, and selection.

How to apply or get help: The program has statutory minimum annual award levels, but individual amounts can vary significantly by project and campus funding. Do not treat an amount published in one college’s proposal as a statewide rate for every student. Ask whether your CIP-coded major is approved, what internships or work-based learning are required, how renewal works, and whether funds are guaranteed each year. ODHE’s public portal posts awards and resources; the campus office confirms student applications and individual packages. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information