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.
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
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
- Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
- Registered Nurse (RN) AAS
- Healthcare Management AAS
- Health Information Management AAS
- Dental Hygiene AAS
- Respiratory Care AAS
- Medical Laboratory AAS
- Medical Assisting ATS
- Surgical Technology AAS
- Massage/Entrepreneurship ATS
- Medical Assisting Certificate
- Massage Therapy Certificate
- Medical Imaging/Radiography AAS
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.
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)
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.
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.