Choose Ohio First Scholarships

Get a great career with no debt. We're offering a tuition-assistance scholarship for students entering in-demand fields. . The Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program is available to incoming students pursuing programs in:

Information Systems Technology

Engineering Technologies

Nursing & Allied Health

Skilled Trades

Future Scientists | STEM Scholarship

For the Choose Ohio First scholarship for Associate of Science students, see our Future Scientists Scholarship.

The Autumn 2023 application for this scholarship is now closed.

Choose Ohio First is the best fit for students starting the programs listed below in Autumn semester each year, so most of our recruitment occurs at that time. As spots become available throughout the school year, however, there may be availability of scholarship funds for students starting in the spring and summer semesters.

If you are interested in being considered for a Choose Ohio First scholarship, please complete the form below indicating your academic goals and other relevant information.

Apply Here

For more information, contact: Alli Kurzawa, akurzawa@cscc.edu.

In addition to scholarship money, Choose Ohio First recipients will learn together as a cohort as they complete their program at Columbus State. Choose Ohio First recipients are a part of the STEM Experiential Learning Scholarship Community, which meets on campus once a month. Students will also have access to a specialized orientation, tutoring, research projects, and special events.

All Choose Ohio First scholars are required to participate in work-based learning experiences relevant to their plan of study. We'll help with connecting accepted students with resources such as career services, academic advising, and faculty mentors.

Eligibility & Application Steps

Eligible Programs

The following programs are eligible for Choose Ohio First scholarships. When you apply to Columbus State, make sure you declare one of these majors. Candidates need to be starting one of these academic programs in autumn 2023 to be considered for the scholarship.

Information Systems Technology

Associate of Applied Science in:

Cybersecurity
Software Development
Network Administration
Web Development

Short Term Certificates:

Cisco Certified Network Administrator Routing & Switching Certificate
Computer Literacy Certificate
IT Security Stackable Certificate
IT Support Stackable Certificate
Network Administrator Certificate
Software Developer Certificate
Mobile Game Applications Certificate
Linux Certificate
IT Technician Certificate

Nursing & Allied Health

NOTE: There is funding available for short-term certificates such as Health Care Manager Certificate, Health Information Management Technician Certificate, Pharmacy Technician Certificate, Phlebotomy Certificate, Nurse Aide Certificate, Medical Coding Certificate, Med Lab Tech Clinical Laboratory Assisting Certificate, Basic EKG Certificate, Addiction Studies Certificate through the Certificate Pathways Scholarship.

Engineering Technologies

Associate of Applied Science in:

Mechanical Engineering Technology
Electromechanical Engineering Technology
Electrical Engineering Technology
Logistics Engineering Technology

Certificates:

Manufacturing Equipment Technician Certificate
Manufacturing Engineering Technician Certificate

Skilled Trades

Welding AAS

STEM Majors

For the Choose Ohio First scholarship for Associate of Science degrees, see our Future Scientists Scholarship.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a scholarship, a student must:

a. Be an Ohio resident

b. Be accepted and enrolled as a Columbus State student and declared within one of the target programs (see Eligible Degrees, above):

c. Be new to the academic program listed above in autumn 2023 (students must be starting program in this semester to be eligible)

d. Be starting at college level courses (not taking developmental courses while pursuing your degree). See Placement & Testing

e. Complete the 2023-24 FAFSA.

f. Write a brief essay outlining college and career aspirations (on application)

How to Apply

The application for Choose Ohio First closed on June 30. There is continued opportunity in the engineering technology degree-seeking and certificate space as well as the IST certificate space. To apply for one of these opportunities, please complete this form by July 15, 2023. Awards will be announced mid-July.

Scholarship Expectations

The COF contract includes:

Scholarship criteria
Performance thresholds (including maintenance of a cumulative 3.0 GPA)
Active participation in co-curricular programming through the STEM Experiential Learning Scholarship Community including STEM Club, the Technology Speaker Series, and other career exploratory activities.
Agreement to submit responses to the evaluation surveys
All other requirements and expectations of COF Scholars, including their academic and professional conduct.