Choose Ohio First Requirements

• You are a resident of Ohio.
• You are seeking a certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree or graduate degree in an eligible STEM discipline.
• You are enrolled at a participating college or university.
• You are new to the program of study at the college or university (this includes students currently enrolled in a non-STEM program who decide to transfer/change majors into a STEM program)

Students will be notified via email by the Choose Ohio First Program Director. In addition, the Choose Ohio First Scholarship will be included or added to your Financial Aid Offer.

Incoming first year students will be notified via email starting in the spring semester.

While we consider income, COF is not strictly need-based.

Beyond tuition and general fees, book vouchers and meal plans are approved as an eligible use of COF funds.  Therefore, if your total grants and scholarships exceed these charges, the COF award may need to be adjusted.

Yes, students will have access to the Choose Ohio First Scholarship for up to four years. The requirements to keep the Choose Ohio First Scholarship are:

• Students must remain in an Choose Ohio First Eligible Major
• It is strongly encouraged that each student meet with their assigned Career Coach at least once per semester (with no maximum appointment limit) for an individual coaching meeting to discuss their personal goals.
• Xavier University will ensure that all Choose Ohio First students have access to a Real World eXperience, a work-based learning opportunity such as internships, project-based collaborations, or research. The Career Development Office (CDO) will connect students to the Experience Hub, a comprehensive website of opportunities, guiding them through the search process and equipping them with the necessary skills to secure these positions.

Transfer students are eligible for the Choose Ohio First Scholarship as long as they meet Xavier’s requirements.