Ohio Governors Merit Scholarship (GMS)

Name: Governors Merit Scholarship (GMS)

Award Amount:

• Up to $5,000 per academic year, renewable for up to four years.

Overview:

The Governor’s Merit Scholarship (GMS) is designed to incentivize Ohio’s top graduating high school seniors to attend a college or university within the state. The scholarship is offered to students who are identified as being in the top 5% of their class in Ohio’s public and chartered nonpublic high schools, as well as the top 5% of homeschooled applicants. The GMS aims to retain Ohio’s brightest students by providing substantial financial assistance throughout their undergraduate education.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be a resident of Ohio.
• Enrolled in an Ohio public high school, chartered nonpublic high school, or homeschooled.
• Identified as being in the top 5% of the graduating class:
  • For public and chartered nonpublic high schools: Determined by the school based on class rank.
  • For homeschooled students: Determined based on standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) and other criteria as specified by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE).
• Registered for selective service as required by federal and state law, if applicable.
• On track to graduate on time, as determined by the high school.

Application Process:

• For Public and Chartered Nonpublic High School Students:
  • No application is necessary; eligibility is determined by the high school based on class rank.
  • Eligible students will be notified of their award by email or U.S. mail.
• For Homeschooled Students:
  • Must complete a college admissions test (ACT or SAT).
  • Submit an application through the ODHE’s secure online portal
  • Upload the letter from the superintendent of the school district excusing the student from compulsory attendance.
  • Application portal opens at the beginning of the senior year and closes by October 1.

Renewal Criteria:

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Complete a minimum of 20 credit hours per academic year.
• Demonstrate appropriate progress toward earning a degree.

Additional Information:

• The GMS can be applied to tuition, fees, and other educational expenses such as books, equipment, room and board, and transportation costs, up to the institution’s published Cost of Attendance (COA).
• Scholarship recipients must enroll at a qualifying institution of higher education within two years of high school graduation; otherwise, the award will be rescinded.
• For detailed guidelines and application instructions, visit the official Governor’s Merit Scholarship page.

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