When someone says "scholarship", we immediately think of free money, but a scholarship is more like a gift that you earn.

Here are the scholarships offered through Southern Sate as well as some local and state-sponsored scholarships. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Note: All Scholarships are contingent on funding availability.

Accounting Degrees

• Accounting Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by an Accounting faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Agriculture & Environmental Science Degrees

• Agriculture Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by an Agriculture faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• All-Ohio Chapter: Soil & Water Conservation Society Scholarship
• This $1000 scholarship is for Ohio residents enrolled at an Ohio college or university pursuing a conservation or environmentally related degree. Deadline: April 29
• Application

• Ohio Environmental Science & Environmental Engineering Program
• This $1250 scholarship is for two-year programs and is non-renewable. Students must be able to demonstrate their knowledge and commitment to a career in environmental science or environmental engineering. Requirements: must be in the final year of program by fall term, have minimum GPA of 3.0, submit essay(s) and letters of recommendations Deadline: June 1
• Apply Online

• Seneca County Master Gardeners Scholarship
• This $5000 non-renewable scholarship is available only to college students who will be entering their junior or senior year of college or doing graduate work. Requirements: must be pursuing a plant science degree, must be a Seneca County resident or a graduate of a Seneca County high school. Deadline: April 15
• Application

Arts

• Julia Barthel Memorial Art Scholarship
• A $500 award for Southern State students focusing on art classes, specifically watercolors and pastels of flowers, painted landscapes and still life. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Lake Waynoka Civic Club & the Ohio Plein Air Society Art Scholarship
• This $500 scholarship is offered to cover tuition, books, and/or art supplies for a full-time Southern State student with an art focus and enrolled in at least one art course per term. Requirements: must be resident of Highland, Brown, Adams, Bracken, or Mason county, have minimum GPA of 2.6, submit one-page artist statement, present three to five original artworks at interview. Deadline: February 15
• Application

• Visual Arts Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by a Fine Arts faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Athletics

• Athletic Department Trustee Scholarships
• Athletic scholarship recipients are selected by the coaches of each sport and must comply with all OCAC (Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference) regulations and/or by-laws. Athletic programs for which scholarships may be awarded include: Men’s Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Women’s Basketball and Women’s Softball.
• To apply, contact the Athletic Department at 800.628.7722 x2697

Brown County Residents

• Dylan Philip Wilson Memorial Scholarship
• This scholarship is for a student from Georgetown High School now attending Southern State full-time. The scholarship amount is based on funding availability as determined by the Dylan Philip Wilson Scholarship Committee. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Eugene Worthington Memorial / Brown County Rural Water Scholarship
• Two $500 awards will be granted to applicants who must be siblings of a Brown County Rural Water Association employee and be students from Brown County and the surrounding areas. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Business Degrees

• Business Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by a Business faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Cindy Igo Memorial Scholarship
• This $500 scholarship is designated in honor of the late Cindy Cowne Igo, Administrative Assistant. Requirements: must be current Southern State student enrolled in the Office Information Technology or Business Management program. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Highland County Chamber Scholarship
• This $500 scholarship is for students who have successfully completed a minimum of 15 credit hours of higher education with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students must be pursuing a business or industry-related degree or certificate. Requirements: applicant or parent of applicant must be a member or employed by a member of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Joyce Fender Family Scholarship
• This $500 scholarship is designated for students pursuing a business major, preferably in Real Estate. Requirements: must be a single mother, demonstrate a need for financial aid, maintain a GPA of 2.6 Deadline: March 15
• Application

Clinton County Residents

• Brett Wightman Memorial Scholarship
• This $1000 scholarship is for recent graduates of East Clinton High School entering Southern State with a General Education focus. Requirements: have minimum GPA of 2.5. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Community Service

• Hillsboro Elks Scholarship
• This $1,000 scholarship is for students who demonstrate financial need and display an interest in community service. Requirements: must maintain a GPA of 2.5 to receive the award throughout the school year. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Hillsboro Lions Club Scholarship
• One $500 scholarship award will be made to the applicant who has achieved academic excellence (as evidenced by their transcripts) who show a commitment to public service and are able to prove involvement or intention to be involved in community activities. Requirements: must continue education at the Central Campus of Southern State in Hillsboro, demonstrate a need for financial assistance. Deadline: April 3
• Application

Company Employees & Relatives

• GM/Frigidaire Scholarship
• This $1000 scholarship is for GM/Delphi/D-Max employees, retirees, their spouses, dependent children and grandchildren. Requirements: have minimum GPA of 3.0, passed all parts of the Ohio Graduation Test. Deadline: February 1
• Visit the Office of Financial Aid to obtain an application.

Computer Science & Technology Degrees

• Computer Science Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by a Computer Science faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Continuing Edcuation

• Adult Incentive Scholarship
• With this scholarship, a student has the opportunity to receive one free class between one and three credit hours (lab fees and books are not included). The student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligibility for the Pell Grant will be determined and the scholarship will pay up to the cost of tuition after the Pell Grant has been applied to the student’s account. Requirements: must not have been enrolled in high school or college credit courses for at least five years, must not have earned a Bachelor’s or higher degree. A GED or high school diploma is not required but is highly recommended. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Trustee GED Scholarship
• This scholarship is offered to any student who completes and passes the GED test and has never attended a post-secondary institution. It must be used within one year of receipt of GED and is for tuition of one class up to three credit hours.
• Apply Online

• Trustee GED Honors Scholarship
• This $500 scholarship is offered to the person with the highest GED score in each county (Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette, and Highland). It is non-renewable. Deadline: June 1
• Apply Online

Education Degrees

• Early Childhood Education Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by an Early Childhood Education faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Education Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by an Education faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Harold W. Spargur & James E. Spargur Memorial Scholarship
• This $300 scholarship is for Highland County High School graduates (also residing in a Highland County school district) who are enrolled at Southern State full-time and majoring in Education. Requirements: have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Deadline: July 1
• Application

• Highland County Retired Teachers Scholarship
• This $300 scholarship is for Highland County High School graduates (also residing in a Highland County school district) who are enrolled at Southern State full-time and majoring in Education. Requirements: have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Deadline: July 1
• Application

Engineering Degrees

• Engineering Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by an Engineering faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Fayette County Residents

• Fayette County Scholars
• This $1000 scholarship is for students from Fayette County. Requirements: have a minimum GPA of 3.0, maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 to continue receiving the scholarship throughout the academic year. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Steven Bennett Memorial Scholarship
• This $500 scholarship is for residents of Fayette County and is designated in honor of the late Steven Bennett of Fayette County. Requirements: have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Washington Court House City Police Department Scholarship
• This $750 scholarship is for Fayette County residents who are recent graduates of Washington Senior High School or Miami Trace High School. The award is dispersed over a period of two semester ($375 per semester). Requirements: maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.6, must demonstrate good leadership qualities, community involvement, and academic excellence. Deadline: March 15
• Application

General Studies

• AES Engineers Scholarship
• This $500 scholarship will be awarded on the basis of character, as determined by evaluating the essays that are submitted. Deadline: October 5
• Apply Online

• Impact Scholarship
• This $100 scholarship (awarded at $50 per semester) is to help offset the most recent tuition increase, based upon funding availability. Students must have completed the FAFSA with an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) of 5273 or above and must be registered and attending full-time for each term they receive the scholarship.
• There is no application process. The eligibility determination will be done automatically through the Office of Financial Aid.

• Mensa Education & Research Foundation Scholarship
• A $1000, $2000 and $3000 scholarship will be awarded to third, second and first place applicants who submit an essay of no more than 550 words that describes the applicant’s career, vocational or academic goals. The awards are unrestricted as to age, race, gender, level of post-secondary education, grade point average and financial need. Deadline: January 15
• Apply Online

High School Graduates

• Academic Excellence Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to a service area high school graduate from the graduating class preceding Fall semester who is enrolled full-time at Southern State. Requirements: have a minimum high school GPA of 3.25, maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 for a second year renewal. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Valedictorian/Salutatorian Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to service area valedictorians and salutatorians from the graduating class preceding Fall semester who are enrolled full-time at Southern State. Requirements: have a minimum high school GPA of 3.25, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 for a second year renewal, submit a letter of recommendation from high school principal and a written personal statement describing the applicant’s goals and extracurricular activities. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Highland County Residents

• Altrusa of Highland County Scholarship
• The recepient of this scholarship ranging from $250 to $500 must be a resident of Highland County for at least two years. In addition, they must be at least 25 years old and currently enrolled in an accredited institution. Requirements: completed a minimum of 12 credit hours. Deadline: December 1
• Application

• Cassner Family Foundation Scholarship
• There will be two scholarships of $3,000 distributed over the academic school year to applicants entering Southern State full-time from Highland County. Requirements: maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 to continue receiving the scholarship throughout the academic year. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Colonel J. Pommert Memorial Scholarship
• This $500 scholarship is for graduates of McClain High School who have been active in community service and athletics while in school. Requirements: have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Highland County Society for Children & Adults, Inc. Betty Collins Scholarship
• This scholarship will be awarded to an applicant who is a resident of Highland County, has taken the ACT or SAT if required, and has a disability or has a parent, sibling or child with a disability. Requirements: have a minimum GPA of 2.0. Deadline: June 1
• Send application to 111 W. Walnut Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133.
• Application

• Hillsboro American Association of University Women (AAUW) Scholarship
• This $200 minimum scholarship is for the "non–traditional" female student (one whose education has been interrupted or delayed). The applicant must be a current Highland County resident for at least two years, at least 21 years old and currently enrolled at a college. Requirements: have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Deadline: July 1
• Application

• Robert A. & Dorothy Hodson Scholarship
• Two $500 scholarships will be awarded to students from Highland County who demonstrate good leadership qualities. Requirements: have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Human Services Degrees

• Human Services Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by a Human Services faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Paul Neff Scholarship
• Two $500 scholarships will be awarded to one freshman and one sophomore who are from Adams or Brown county and are majoring in the Chemical Dependency program. Requirements: maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.6 to continue receiving the scholarship throughout the academic year. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Math & Science Degrees

• Math & Science Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by a Math or Science faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Nursing & Health Degrees

• Don & Ann Fender Scholarship
• This $500 scholarship is for residents of Adams, Brown, or Highland County who are pursuing a health-related degree. Preference will be given to nursing students professing a desire to work at Highland District Hospital. Requirements: have a minimum GPA of 2.6. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Hottle Nursing Scholarship
• This $500 scholarship is awarded each year to a student accepted into the Nursing program at Southern State who is a resident of Brown, Clinton, Fayette or Highland County. Requirements: have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• JoAnne Jacobson Memorial Scholarship
• This $500 scholarship is designed to honor the late JoAnne Jacobson, Nursing Professor. Eligibility is restricted to a current Fayette County resident and outstanding nursing student selected by the nursing faculty. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Medical Assisting Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by a Medical Assisting faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Nursing Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by a Nursing faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Storer Family Scholarship
• This scholarship is for second year nursing students who have graduated from any Highland County high school. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Service Area Residents

• Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD) David V. Stivison Appalachian Scholarship
• This scholarship is for residents of the 30-county COAD service area who reside in a household with a total annual income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Requirements: have obtained or will obtain a high school degree or GED, show proof of acceptance by an accredited 2- year or 4-year institution of higher education Deadline: March 1
• Learn More Here or call 740.594.8499
• Application

• Douglas R. & Dr. Susan Seipelt Family Scholarship
• This scholarship is for residents of Adams, Brown or Highland County who are entering Southern State. Awards will be made based on a student’s ability to demonstrate consistent leadership qualities and exhibit responsibility to self, family, school, and community. Requirements: maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.6. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Dr. Lawrence & Gale Dukes Scholarship
• This scholarship is for residents of Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette or Highland County who can be a new or continuing student. Requirements: have a minimum GPA of 3.0, show need of financial assistance. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Tech Prep Program

• Tech Prep Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by a Tech Prep faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application

Theatre

• Edward K. Daniels Memorial Scholarship
• This $500 scholarship is designed to honor the late Edward K. Daniels, Drama Professor. Eligibility is restricted to a continuing Southern State drama student. Requirements: have minimum GPA of 2.5. Deadline: March 15
• Application

• Performing Arts Department Trustee Scholarship
• Granted by the Board of Trustees of Southern State to encourage worthy students to pursue their academic careers. Applicants may be interviewed and recommended by a Speech and Theater faculty advisor. Requirements: complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Deadline: March 15
• Application