Choose Ohio First Scholarship

• Applicants must complete the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Application.
• Must enroll for at least 9 credit hours per semester and progress towards graduation.
• Must be an Ohio resident
• New students to Southern State must sign up, attend, and complete the online or face-to-face New Student Orientation. Students who have taken CCP through Southern State must participate in orientation.
• Must meet with either the Academic Advisor or Computer Technology faculty at least twice during the semester.
• Must maintain a 3.0 GPA to receive the scholarship. Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 will be required to work with the Program Advocate for support services. Two consistent semesters of falling GPA below 3.0 could prohibit participation in the COF program.
• Will be required to complete an internship or co-op or have full-time work experience in the program while in the program. Documentation will be required. The Computer Technology faculty will assist in this area as needed.
• Student must declare Computer Technology as their major. See your academic advisor if you wish to verify or change.
• Students must be new to the program of study at the institution. This includes those who change majors within Southern State. For example, a Nursing student who decides they want to do Computer Technology would qualify for a COF scholarship.
• Will be asked to participate in the COF Scholar Showcase, along with all participants.
• Be an active participant in any COF activities and submit all required COF surveys.
• Any student who has a balance with Southern State Community College will not be eligible for this funding source.
• Students will be responsible for any costs not covered by the scholarship, primarily any lab fees for the classes.

The maximum scholarship amount for the 2024-2025 academic year is $8,904 towards eligible expenses. Funding will only be available for Fall and Spring semesters. Students who are interested in taking summer classes should consult with the Program Advocate in one of the COF sessions.

The Choose Ohio First Scholarship program is not based on financial need and is not refundable. The amount of awards is based on meeting eligibility criteria and available funding. Students will be required to utilize other funding options for expenses not covered by the scholarship.