Grants

The Federal Pell Grant is financial aid offered to students who demonstrate financial need through the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The amount offered depends on the student’s need and the number of enrolled credit hours per semester.

The Federal Pell Grant has a maximum lifetime eligibility limit, which may allow for up to 12 semesters of enrollment.  Students who have earned a Bachelor’s Degree are no longer eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant.

Students transferring to Cincinnati State who have used Pell Grant funds at another school should use the National Student Loan Database to check how much grant money they still have available. (Check before registering for classes.)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is a federal grant offered to students with exceptional financial need who are already eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. Federal SEOG funds are limited each year and offered on a first come first serve basis. Students should submit their FAFSA as soon as possible for priority consideration.  To receive the Federal SEOG, students must enroll for a minimum of six credit hours each semester in a degree or eligible certificate program.

Active-duty members of the Ohio National Guard can apply to the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program (ONGSP), which may cover up to 100 percent of tuition and general fees for eligible participants.  Eligibility and application requirements are on the Ohio National Guard web page.   

The Ohio War Orphans Scholarship program awards tuition assistance to the children of deceased or severely disabled Ohio veterans who served in the armed forces during a period of declared war or conflict.  Students must be an Ohio resident, under the age of 25 and enrolled full-time in an associate degree.  Students must complete an application by the published deadline each year.  For more information, please review the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship web page.   

The Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund provides tuition assistance to the children and spouses of police officers, firefighters, and certain other safety officers killed in the line of duty anywhere in the United States. In certain cases, the fund also assists the children and spouses of a member of the armed services killed in the line of duty.  The child is only eligible for this program if he/she is not eligible for the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship.  Students must be an Ohio resident pursuing an associate degree.  For more information, please review the Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund. 

The Cincinnati State Be Great High School Grant program provides funds for tuition (up to $1,000/year) and books (up to $1,000/year). 

• Who is eligible: Qualified graduates of Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) high schools and Cincinnati Youth Collaborative (CYC) high schools.  

Qualifications for the Be Great High School Grant 

• Graduates of qualifying high schools (see list below of participating schools) 
• Students must enter the college in a first-time degree-seeking status within one year of high school graduation 
• Will attend Cincinnati State full-time (taking a minimum of 12 credit hours)  
• Pell Grant-eligible 

How to apply:  

• You must apply to a degree program to be eligible for the Be Great High School Grant. 

• Complete the  FAFSA form  for a Pell Grant. Use school code 010345 for Cincinnati State. 

Maintaining and Renewing the Be Great High School Grant 

The Be Great High School Grant is renewable for up to six consecutive semesters for students who meet these requirements: 

• Attend Cincinnati State as a full-time student seeking an associate’s degree (taking a minimum of 12 credits per semester, in Fall and Spring semesters), until graduation 
• Maintain academic good standing in the student’s degree program 
• Meet Cincinnati State standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) 

• Maintain Pell Grant eligibility   

Schools in the Be Great High School Grant Program 

• Aiken High School (CPS) 
• Cincinnati Digital Academy (CPS) 
• Clark Montessori High School (CPS) 
• Dater High School (CPS) 
• Finneytown High School (CYC) 
• Gamble Montessori High School (CPS) 
• Hughes STEM High School (CPS) 
• Mt. Healthy High School 
• North College Hill High School (CYC) 
• Norwood High School (CYC) 
• Oyler School (CPS) 
• Princeton High School 
• Riverview East Academy (CPS) 
• School for Creative and Performing Arts (CPS) 
• Shroder High School (CPS) 
• Taft Information Technology High School (CPS) 
• Walnut Hills High School (CPS) 
• Western Hills University High School (CPS) 
• Winton Woods High School (CYC) 
• Withrow University High School (CPS) 
• Woodward Career Technical High School (CPS) 
• Virtual High School (CPS)

The Two Great Techs Scholarship is an award ($3,000.00 aggregate maximum) to students graduating high school who also completed a Butler Tech program. This scholarship helps students from specific high schools within a Butler Tech program. 

The first one hundred (100) students graduating from the following Butler Tech associate school districts (listed below) after having completed a program with Butler Tech who have 1) applied for admission at Cincinnati State and 2) completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are eligible for the Butler Tech-Cincinnati State Be Great Scholarship.  Priority consideration is given to students who complete the admissions application and the FAFSA by March 1. 

• Edgewood City Schools 
• Fairfield City School District 
• Lakota Local Schools 
• Madison Local Schools 
• Middletown City Schools 
• Monroe Local Schools 
• New Miami  Local  School District 
• Northwest  Local  School District 
• Ross  Local Schools 
• Talawanda School District 

Eligibility Criteria for the Butler Tech-Cincinnati State Be Great Scholarship 

In order for students to qualify for this program, students must: 

• Be identified as an immediate graduate of one of the aforementioned schools after having completed a program with Butler Tech, and be within the first one hundred (100) students to apply for admission.  Priority consideration given to students who apply for admission by March 1, 2025; 
• Must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA as shown on a current high school transcript;
• Complete and submit the 2025-2026 FAFSA.  On the FAFSA student must list Cincinnati State as a school to receive the FAFSA information.  Priority consideration given to students who complete and submit the FAFSA by March 1, 2025; 
• Register for twelve (12) or more credit hours per semester beginning the fall term immediately following high school graduation.  Please note:  The award will only disburse for actively attended credit hours totaling twelve (12) or more; and 
• Students are required to meet all aspects of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy as with all federal student aid programs. Students are monitored each semester per policy by the Office of Financial Aid.