Bearcats Affordability Grant

The grant covers tuition and the following fees: instructional fees, general fees, campus life fees, distance learning fees, and program fees. It does not cover any additional course-specific fees, books, housing, and meal plans.

Yes. All UC campuses are included. Because regional campus tuition is often fully covered by Pell, you may not need the Bearcats Affordability Grant.

Yes. The grant covers the undergraduate tuition portion of programs such as the 4+1/Accelerated Program.

Yes. You may be able to use other scholarships to cover costs beyond just tuition. You should contact Enrollment Services to understand how your scholarships from UC, community organizations, or the State of Ohio will impact your Bearcats Affordability Grant.

The first eligible class will be students entering UC in Fall 2026.

Yes. If you qualify for the grant, you can enroll in any associate or bachelor’s degree program at any UC campus, including online programs.

There is no minimum GPA requirement for this grant, but you must still meet the admission requirements for your intended UC program.

Family income is determined using information reported on your FAFSA and it depends on your dependency status. If you file as a dependent student, it generally includes your parent(s’) income reported on federal tax returns, such as wages, self-employment income, taxable interest, and certain untaxed income. If you file as an independent student, it generally includes your income and, if applicable, your spouse’s income, as reported on the FAFSA.

No. You must be a first-time, first-year college student to qualify, however, if you’ve completed dual enrollment courses, such as College Credit Plus, you are not considered a transfer student.

No. If you start as a non-resident and later become an Ohio resident, the award will not be applied retroactively to earlier terms. It will only apply moving forward once residency is established.

No. This grant is only available to students pursuing their first associate or bachelor’s degree.

Yes. You may still be eligible for the grant, provided you meet all other eligibility requirements.

If you are awarded the grant, you will be notified through your official award offer notification.

If you drop below 2.0, you no longer meet what’s considered Satisfactory Academic Progress and your eligibility to continue to receive the grant may be impacted. Please check our Satisfactory Academic Progress policy to learn more.

If you no longer meet Satisfactory Academic Progress, your eligibility to continue to receive the grant may be impacted. Please check our Satisfactory Academic Progress policy to learn more.

You may be eligible to receive the grant when you return, as long as you re-enroll, meet all eligibility requirements, and remain in good academic standing at the time of review.

You may receive the grant for the standard length of your program (four to five years), if you maintain full-time enrollment and make Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Yes. The grant continues as long as you remain in an undergraduate program and stay within the standard length of completion (typically four or five years, depending on your program).

Your residency is determined at the time you apply. You can request a residency review if you believe your residency status has changed. If your residency changes from non-Ohio resident to Ohio resident, you may be eligible for the Bearcats Affordability Grant going forward, but it will not be applied retroactively to previous semesters or if you have passed billing deadlines.

Yes. If you meet Ohio residency criteria before you enroll, you may receive the grant starting with the first eligible term after residency is established.