One application. Endless Opportunities.
College Scholarship Program
Before you apply FAQs
There are many different scholarships with varying criteria. Unless otherwise specified in the “List of Scholarships”, they are intended for students whose families reside in the Greater Cincinnati area (Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana).
Only one application is required to be considered for all the scholarships we administer. We take the information you provide on the application and try to match it with a scholarship.
Criteria for these scholarships are determined by the donors and can be specific, which is why it is important that you complete the application in its entirety. Most scholarships are “need-based”, and help to cover the cost of education after all other federal, state, and campus-based aid have been awarded. To be considered for all CSF scholarships, you must have a proven financial need which can only be determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
You may attend the college or university of your choice as long as it is an accredited and not-for-profit.
Yes, these scholarships require full-time attendance (12 credit hours or better).
The awarding process takes place over the summer and sometimes goes into the school year. Current recipients who have applied to renew their scholarships have first consideration. When the renewal process is complete, we’ll then know what is available for distribution to new applicants. Awarding begins around the first of the summer and goes on until all the money has been distributed.
Yes! You will need your unofficial transcript, resume, student essay, FAFSA Submission Summary, and a financial aid award letter from your college to be considered for a scholarship.
You are not required to have a recommendation letter, unless you are eligible for a scholarship that requires a recommendation letter for consideration. The application will request a recommendation letter if needed.
While historically CSF provided high school funding, the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation no longer offers high school scholarships. Our scholarships are now only for post-high school education.
Once you are Awarded FAQs
You completed an online application and uploaded the required documents on the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation. You met the eligibility criteria and were selected by the Scholarship Selection Committee of Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation’s Board of Director’s for one or more scholarships that our organization administers.
Once you have accepted your scholarship, we will send the scholarship amount to your school to be disbursed over the terms of the academic year.
Use the opportunity on the follow-up form used to accept or renew your scholarship to tell your donor a little about yourself and why you are grateful for your scholarship.
These annual thank you notes are shared with the donor so feel free to give new updates each year.
- If you drop below full time;
- If you fail to meet the minimum GPA requirement;
- If you don’t respond to emailed communications in a timely manner; or
- If you don’t complete the required follow-up documents when they are due.
Additionally, some scholarships have specific requirements such as major or college. Please contact us if one or both of these should change. In these cases, we will work with you to see if you can be considered for a replacement award.
Start Your journey Today
Apply for a Scholarship
Thinking of applying for a scholarship? Please visit review our online application page for information on how to submit an application and about the awarding process.
Login to your account
To access, make edits, or view account information, please login here. Thank you for visiting the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation Applicant Portal.
