Financial aid and scholarships

The Federal Pell Grant Program offers up to $7,395 (2023-24 academic calendar) in aid that does not need to be repaid. The amount granted depends on your tuition costs and financial need. Complete the FAFSA to see if you are eligible and to apply. Learn more about federal student aid here.

If you are an Ohio resident and qualify for a federal Pell Grant, you may also qualify for a needs-based state grant. Funds for this program are more limited, however, and awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ohio College Opportunity Grants

Ohio College Opportunity Grants (OCOG) are state-funded each academic year and are available to Ohio residents who demonstrate financial need and have qualified for Pell Grant funds. Funds for this program are limited. The grant is prorated based on full- or part-time enrollment status.

Grants and scholarships are automatically accepted. If you want to decline grants or scholarships, contact the Financial Aid office at financialaid@centralstate.edu. 

Federal Direct Loans

• A subsidized loan is awarded based on financial need. Students will not be charged interest before they begin repayment or during authorized deferment periods. The federal government subsidizes the interest during these periods. 
• An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of need. Students will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. If students allow the interest to accumulate while they are in school or during other periods of nonpayment, it will be capitalized; that is, the interest will be added to the principal amount of the loan and subsequent interest will be based on the higher amount. 
• Federal Direct PLUS Loans enable parents who do not have an adverse credit history to borrow money to pay the education expenses of each child who is a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time. 

The federal work-study program offers financial assistance to students with financial need, enabling them to work part-time on campus. This program provides an excellent opportunity for students to gain valuable hands-on experience that can benefit them in the future, while also earning money to help cover their expenses while in school.

This program allows Centralians and their families to enroll in degree-seeking classes. The program expands access to family members and Centralians who were not included in the past. The form in this section is NOT used for the MBA Discount Program.

The Alumni Tuition Remission Benefit Program enables Centralian members in good standing, full dues-paying members and their families, to receive tuition remission. The application link will close the day the drop/add closes each semester and will not reopen until registration for the upcoming semester opens. Applications are required each semester. Once the link closes for the current semester, no other applications will be received or approved for the past semester. Summer sessions are not included in this program. 

Eligible family members include children including stepchildren, grandchildren including step-grandchildren, spouses, siblings, and parents, including parents-in-law.

Note: Tuition for semesters with a GPA below 2.0 will disqualify the student from the benefit for the next semester.

Download program FAQs

Steps to apply

1. Apply for admissions. Students are responsible for application fees, matriculation fees, general fees, books, and health fees. Admitted and actively enrolled students begin with Step 2.
2. Complete a FAFSA.
3. Register for classes.
4. Complete a Tuition Remission Form (required each semester).

The student must be registered full time (12-18 credit hours).

Apply now

A federally funded grant, the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides up to $4,000 per year in grants for undergraduate students in specified majors who intend to teach full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools classified as serving low-income students. For students who do not complete the service obligations associated with the program, this grant will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized loan. 

Grant-becomes-loan provision 

While students intending to teach may benefit from this grant money, accepting a TEACH grant is unlike other grant programs. 

Failure to meet all service provisions will result in all TEACH grant funds being permanently converted to a loan with interest calculated to when the grant was received. 

To receive a TEACH Grant, students must do the following:  

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

• Meet basic aid eligibility requirements for matriculation and academic progress 

• Be enrolled in a program of study designated as TEACH Grant-eligible 

• Meet one of the following academic achievement requirements: score above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test (e.g., SAT, ACT, or GRE) or have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 

• Complete TEACH Grant counseling each year funds are received 

• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (ATS) each year the student receives funds and respond to requests by the U.S. Department of Education confirming your continuing intention to meet the teaching obligation 

Active-duty service members, veterans, and their families may be eligible for additional educational benefits under the Forever GI Bill. It provides funding to qualified students to help pay for tuition and fees, housing, books, and supplies. Learn more

Veterans' educational benefits

GI Bill 

GI Bill benefits help students pay for college, graduate school, and training programs. It is available to qualifying veterans and their family members to cover all or some of the costs for school or training.  

AmeriCorps 

AmeriCorps is a program for students to participate in national service and community service that can help put them through college. 
 
FASTChoice 

FASTChoice makes it easy to learn a student’s options, responsibilities and details of each lender’s loan products. There are many ways to pay for higher education, and FASTChoice makes it easier by providing students with simple yet critical information about funding types and money management. It also clearly presents the student’s new responsibilities when they borrow money. Finally, FASTChoice presents the student with a comparison of loan products in easy-to-understand ways.

ROTC scholarships

Army ROTC scholarships pay 100% tuition, $1,200 per year for books, and required fees. They are awarded on merits such as academic achievements, extracurricular activities, personal interviews, and physical fitness.

Scholarship winners also receive a monthly stipend of $420 for each academic month. Each scholarship may have different benefits that are attached to the specific type of scholarship.

Eligibility

• Be a U.S. citizen and at least age 17 with the ability to commission by the time you are 30 years old
   
• Have a high school GPA of at least 2.50
   
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
   
• Meet physical standards according to the Department of Defense Medical Review Board and Army physical fitness test
   
• Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on Active
  Duty or in a Reserve component (Army Reserve or Army National Guard)
   
• Pass a background check

For more Central State University Army ROTC scholarship information please contact:

Steve Harmon
Scholarship and Enrollment Counselor  
O: 937-376-6283 | M: 937-361-2263 

To learn more visit Central State Global Partnership. 

Central State University supports the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) for general education courses. Students enrolled in only OER courses incur no course material or textbook charges, as the resources used for learning in the courses are copyrighted for open access.

Check out Textbooks and Course Materials for complete details.

If you are waiting for a university-funded scholarship (band, choir, housing, etc.), please be patient. The Financial Aid office has requested each of these units provide information as soon as possible, but no later than June 1. Following National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) guidelines, Athletics will provide scholarship information by July 1.  

For scholarships from external sources, the Financial Aid office will add your financial aid award as soon as the Financial Aid office receives official notice of the award. You can see it under the financial aid tab in the student portal. 

Parent PLUS loans for the 2023-24 academic year will not be available until after April 1. You can access information about the PLUS loan application at https://studentaid.gov/app/launchPLUS.action?plusType=parentPlus. 

After your parents have completed the application, please notify the Financial Aid office via email financialaid@centralstate.edu.  

This will inform the Financial Aid officer to make the necessary adjustment to your student account. 

As always, if you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to us at: financialaid@centralstate.edu.