On this page read our brief descriptions about the financial aid programs available through the State of Ohio or click here to read more about all of the Ohio programs.
Federal information, including the financial aid application process, is also available below.
Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG)
This grant was awarded beginning in 2006-07 to first-time students only and eventually will replace the Ohio Instructional Grant as it is phased in over the next few years. Ohio residents who will be new students during or after 2006-07 must file the FAFSA to have eligibility determined. Part-time awards are also available. More information.
Ohio Instructional Grant (awarded in 2006-07 to continuing students or new transfer students only)
The Ohio Instructional Grant Program (OIG) provides need-based tuition assistance to full-time undergraduate students from low and moderate income families. This program is intended to expand access to higher education by bringing the cost of college within reach of more Ohio families. Awards are based on family income with consideration given to the number of dependents in the family. Benefits are restricted to the student's instructional and general fee charges.
Awards at Bluffton University for the 2007-08 academic year range from $444-$5466. Students apply for the OIG grant by completing the FAFSA after which a letter of eligibility is sent to the student from the Ohio Board of Regents in Columbus. The application deadline is October 1 of each year. The OIG will not be awarded for more than five years of full-time study. The OIG program supports a continuous enrollment provision. An OIG recipient can receive the grant for two full semesters and for the summer term prior to the award year in which eligibility is determined. Full-time status is required to receive guaranteed OIG benefits in any term.
The Ohio Student Choice Grant Program provides financial assistance to full-time students enrolled for baccalaureate study in Ohio private non-profit colleges and universities. This program assists in narrowing the tuition gap between the state's public and private non-profit colleges and universities. Eligibility for the Student Choice Grant is not based on need or academic merit. The amount of the Choice grant for the 2007-08 academic year is $660. No application is required for this program. To be eligible, the student cannot have previously been enrolled in a college/university full-time prior to July 1, 1984. This grant is awarded for a maximum of five years of full-time study.
Pennsylvania State Grant Program
Pennsylvania residents attending Bluffton University can check with the college financial aid office or the Pennsylvania state grants office to learn about eligibility for a need-based reciprocal program between Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Ohio Academic Scholarship Program
The Ohio Academic Scholarship Program provides competitive, merit-based financial assistance to the state's most academically outstanding high school graduates who enroll for full-time undergraduate study in Ohio institutions of higher education. This program provides an incentive for students to remain in Ohio. Each year, at least one Ohio Academic Scholarship is awarded to a student from each participating chartered high school in the state. The award amount for 2007-08 is $2,205 (renewable for four years). Eligibility for these awards is determined by a selection formula which considers a student's high school grade-point average and scores from the ACT Assessment. The deadline is February 23rd of each year. Application is made through the student's high school Guidance Office after January 1. More information.
Ohio War Orphans Scholarship Program
The Ohio War Orphans Scholarship Program awards tuition assistance to the children of deceased or severely disabled Ohio veterans who served in the armed forces during a period of declared war or conflict. To receive War Orphans Scholarship benefits, a student must be enrolled for full-time undergraduate study at an eligible Ohio college or university. Ohio residency is required. Applicants must be under the age of 21. Scholarship benefits go toward instructional fee charges at Bluffton University. Applications are available from the Ohio Board of Regents/State Grants and Scholarships Department, high school guidance offices, veterans service offices, and the Bluffton University Financial Aid Office. The application deadline is July 1 of each year. The award amount for recipients at Bluffton University in the 2007-08 award year is $5,100.
Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund
This program provides tuition assistance to the children and spouses of Ohio peace officers, fire fighters and certain other safety officers who are killed in the line-of-duty anywhere in the United States. Recipients may enroll for full-time or part-time study at any participating Ohio post-secondary institution. The Fund provides benefits which cover full instructional and general fee charges at public colleges and universities and a portion of these costs at private post-secondary institutions. Interested students should contact the Bluffton University Financial Aid Office or the Ohio Board of Regents/State Grants and Scholarships Department.
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program
This program awards financial assistance to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement in high school. Winners for 2007-08 each receive $1,500 to be applied toward undergraduate study at any accredited college/university in the United States. Recipients are selected on the basis of class rank, high school grades, test scores and participation in leadership activities. At least one scholarship is awarded in each of Ohio's congressional districts. Scholarships are renewable for up to four years. Applications are available from high school guidance counselors. Application is made in the senior year of high school and the application deadline is the second Friday in March. For more information contact your high school guidance office or the Ohio Department of Education at (614) 466-4590.
Federal aid information and programs
Federal Pell Grant
The federal government funds these need-based grants ranging from $890 to $4,731 per year assuming full funding. Students apply for this grant by filing the FAFSA.
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The FSEOG program is funded by the federal government to provide educational opportunity to qualified college students with exceptional financial need. A limited number of grants ranging from $700 to approximately $1,200 per year are awarded by the financial aid office. Students must be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant to also be considered for the FSEOG.
The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA)
The HERA created two new grant programs for full-time students who are at degree-granting institutions, are U.S. citizens, and are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant. Congress has funded the grants for eligible students since July 1, 2006.
The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
The ACG is one of the two new grant programs and is available for first-year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and for second-year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. This grant is in addition to the student's Federal Pell Grant.
To receive the ACG each academic year, a student must:
The ACG will provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who meet all eligibility requirements.
The National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant)
The National SMART Grant is one of the two new grant programs. It is available during the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The student must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. This grant is in addition to the student's Federal Pell Grant award.
To receive the National SMART Grant each academic year, a student must:
Have at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the coursework required for the student's program of study
A National SMART Grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who meet all eligibility requirements.
Filing for financial aid
In order to have eligibility determined for any state, federal or Bluffton University need-based program, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filed. The FAFSA can be filed electronically (FAFSA on the Web or FOTW). The federal school code for Bluffton University is 003016.
The student and at least one parent (dependent student only) are encouraged to apply for a PIN number in order to be able to electronically sign the FAFSA. (The student and a parent must each have their own unique PIN number.) The PIN registration site is here. Apply for a PIN now and avoid delays when you are ready to actually file the FAFSA. The earliest a FAFSA can be filed for the 2008-2009 academic year is January 1, 2008, but the PIN registration can be completed at any time. Note: No signature is required when applying for a PIN, but without a PIN, a student filing FOTW will be required to mail in a signature page, causing unnecessary delays.
Returning students, starting in mid January, FAFSA renewal reminders will be sent by the FAFSA processor to all students either by e-mail or regular postal mail if an e-mail address was not provided last year. Beginning January 1, 2008 students can file their FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. A FAFSA on the Web worksheet will also be available to print from that page and complete in advance of filling out the on-line application. If you completed the FAFSA for 2007-08, and have a valid PIN, you will be asked if you would like your on-line FAFSA pre-filled with data from the previous year. If you are not filing on-line, there are two options for completing the FAFSA and sending it via regular mail: 1:)Paper FAFSAs will only be available to students by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-433-3243. Students may request up to three copies. Or: 2.) NEW: A 2008-2009 PDF version of the FAFSA can be submitted for processing. This official FAFSA will be available to download by going to www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov. Students can access the PDF, complete the form on the computer and print it, or print the form and complete it by hand, and mail to the address provided for processing.
Early Estimate: If you want to begin exploring your financial aid options and get an early start on the financial aid process, FAFSA4caster is for you! By using FAFSA4caster, you and your family will receive an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid. This Web site provides you with an opportunity to increase your knowledge of the financial aid process; become familiar with the various types of federal student aid that are available; and investigate other sources of aid, such as grants and scholarships. NOTE: High school seniors in the last semester of school must fill out a FAFSA to determine eligibility for financial aid.
If you have general questions about the financial aid process, or specific questions about completing the FAFSA, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center hotline: 1-800-4FEDAID (1-800-433-3243) (available daytime, evenings and weekends) or link to: Federal Information for Students. The Bluffton University catalog provides information on federal financial aid programs available to eligible Bluffton University students.
