Ohio Student Loans And Financial Aid Programs

Ohio has several private student loan and financial aid programs that can help you pay for college. If you're going to be attending college in Ohio, you need to be looking to take advantage of these programs.

These programs are designed to help make college more affordable - so that you can get the education you need. These programs can include scholarships, grants, and student loans.

Don't forget that there are Federal student loan programs available as well. You can find out more on how to get a Federal student loan here.

There is also a specific order of operations to pay for college that we recommend students follow. These programs specific to the State of Ohio can help you to avoid borrowing more money than you need to. 

Ohio Student Loan Programs

Ohio doesn't have any unique student loan programs to help it's students pay for college. However, there are still Federal student loans available to students who attend college in Ohio. 

If you're just looking for private student loan options, we recommend:

• Credible - Like the Kayak of student loans, they help you shop around and compare options. Try Credible here.
• College Ave - One of the best private student loan lenders. Get A Quote At College Ave Here.

Check out our complete guide to finding the best student loans here.

Ohio Scholarship Programs

Ohio has several scholarships available to students who want to attend college in the state.

Choose Ohio First Scholarship

The Choose Ohio First Scholarship is designed to significantly strengthen Ohio’s competitiveness within STEM disciplines and STEM education.

Once a student receives a Choose Ohio First Scholarship, they become immersed in a cohort model with wrap-around student support services, such as built-in advising, mentoring, co-op and internship opportunities, cohort seminars and events, and research events.

Learn more about the Choose Ohio First Scholarship.

Ohio Grant Programs

Ohio also has a grant program to provide need based financial aid to Ohio residents.

Grants are one of the best forms of financial aid because, in most circumstances, you don't have to pay the money back.

Ohio Second Chance Grant

The Second Chance Grant provides financial assistance in the form of $2,000 grants to eligible students re-enrolling at a qualifying institution in order to obtain a degree or credential. Second Chance Grants are applied against the student’s cost of attendance (COA) after all need-based federal and state grants have been applied. Grants are awarded on a first-come first-serve basis.

The maximum award is $2,000 per year.

You can learn more about the Ohio Second Chance Grant.

Other Options

If you already have student loans and are looking for options as a Ohio resident, check out our Ohio Student Loan Forgiveness Program page. That page has all the different options available to Ohio residents to potentially get some of your student loan debt forgiven.

You might also look at refinancing your student loans and saving money in interest while also potentially lowering your payment. Check out our guide on the Best Places To Refinance Your Student Loans.

If you're looking for ways to save for college in Ohio, check out our Ohio 529 Plan and College Savings Guide.

Finally, check out the other student loan and financial aid programs by state.