The Columbus Promise Scholarship

What the Scholarship Provides

Up to six (6) semesters of tuition and fees at Columbus State Community College after the Pell grant (if eligible) and any tuition-restricted scholarship(s)
A $500 stipend each semester for books and other expenses
Dedicated academic support, career counseling, and engaging events

How to Qualify for Columbus Promise

The application for the 2026-2027 academic year will open in January 2026 to graduating seniors from Columbus City Schools (CCS) high schools. Eligible students will need to complete the following steps to qualify for the Columbus Promise scholarship in Autumn 2025:

How to Maintain Your Scholarship for up to Six Semesters

Your Columbus Promise Scholarship will be automatically awarded for up to six semesters if you meet the following guidelines:

Enroll at Columbus State beginning in Autumn Semester following your high school graduation.
Enroll in each Autumn and Spring Semester that follows. (Summer Semester is optional, but if used will count toward your six Columbus Promise semesters.)
Each academic year, complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), if eligible, and submit all FAFSA-required documents by the priority deadline.
Each semester, enroll in at least six credit hours that count toward a financial-aid eligible degree or certificate each semester in which the scholarship is used.
Earn at least 15 credit hours toward your program of study each academic year (AU, SP, SU).
If you drop a course or you are dropped due to non-attendance or non-participation, you will be responsible for any resulting tuition charges, bookstore purchases, or the return of financial aid or Promise stipends. Columbus Promise does not cover these balances.
Maintain the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress each semester. You can watch some helpful videos for understanding the SAP Process and how students are evaluated.
Attend Orientation (required): New Student Orientation, Pre-Term College Success Skills (COLS) course, or a College Success Sills (COLS) course during Autumn semester.
Meet with your Columbus Promise Advisor once a semester.

Columbus Promise Petition Process

The Columbus Promise Petition Process allows incoming, current, or withdrawn Columbus Promise students to submit various petitions for circumstances that are outside of the typical guidelines, described above.

Timing and Next Steps: Petitions should be submitted by the student themselves, include a justification statement, and provide any appropriate documentation. Once submitted, petitions will be reviewed within 10 business days, or a member of the Columbus Promise team will follow up for additional information within that time. While waiting for a decision, students should not wait to add or drop classes, complete financial aid documents, meet with an Advisor, or complete any other time-sensitive process. Notifications regarding the decision will be communicated to the student’s Columbus State email for security and confidentiality purposes.

Please use this form to submit a petition for any of the eligible circumstances described: Columbus Promise Petition Process Form

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