Choose Ohio First Scholarship — ODHE

Choose Ohio First (COF) is not a statewide scholarship open to every major. Ohio funds colleges and universities offering designated science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), health-profession and STEM-teacher pathways. Participating campuses select recipients, set amounts based on their grant and may include internships, employer partnerships or lab experiences. For a recent high-school graduate, the key is whether the exact program and school appear on the state list.

ODHE lists four general conditions: Ohio residency, a certificate or degree in an eligible STEM discipline, enrollment at a participating college and being new to the chosen program of study. That may include a current student changing from a non-STEM major into a designated program; simply changing a major’s informal title is not enough. The state list connects schools, academic areas and contacts. Check that your major is part of the funded cohort, not merely a subject that sounds like science or technology.

Ohio does not have one student COF application. The official next step is to contact the COF office or coordinator at a participating college and ask how to apply, which entering cohort is eligible, what academic criteria apply and when the campus deadline closes. ODHE says award decisions belong to each college and amounts vary by institution and year. Request the annual amount, renewal terms, minimum credits and any GPA or internship requirement in writing.

Student discussions show common confusion: some assume a federal FAFSA is enough, while others are unsure whether changing majors counts as being “new” to the program. Reddit can suggest questions but cannot decide eligibility. The state guide separates scholarships awarded by colleges from funds Ohio gives to those institutions. Send the campus contact your exact program and entry term, and keep the reply before building a class schedule around aid.

The scholarship may be applied to tuition and fees and, if the college authorizes it, certain additional education costs; do not assume it pays housing, transportation or the full price. Request a net-cost estimate combining COF, Pell, OCOG, college aid and living expenses. If the award includes work-based learning, ask whether it is required, paid and what happens if the employer or schedule changes. ODHE administers the statewide program in Columbus; the college confirms an individual application.