The Columbus Promise
Free Tuition at Columbus State Community College
What You Need to Know
- All graduating CCS seniors are eligible for the Columbus Promise. There are no GPA requirements, no financial need requirements, and no immigration status requirements.
- The Columbus Promise Scholarship is renewable for up to six semesters. To maintain eligibility, Columbus Promise Scholars must:
- Enroll in a minimum of six (6) credit hours that apply toward a Federal Aid-eligible degree or certificate.
- Maintain continuous enrollment in Autumn and Spring semesters (summer enrollment is optional).
- Continue to meet the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) each semester.
- And, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and any additional documents required by the financial aid process each academic year.
All graduating columbus city schools seniors are eligible for the Columbus Promise.
Steps to Apply
1
Do Your FAFSA
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) once it opens on or around December 1st.
Reach out to your I Know I Can College Advising Manager for FAFSA assistance.
studentaid.gov
2
Apply to CSCC
Complete the Columbus State Community College application for admission.
cscc.edu/apply
3
Create an Account In Our Portal
Click here to create a new account in our application portal. You’ll need your CCS High School Student ID and a personal email address.
If you have already applied for other I Know I Can funding opportunities, you should already have an account. If you don’t remember your password, click “Forgot your password” to reset it.
portal.iknowican.org
4
General Funding Application
After creating your account, you’ll complete a brief general funding application. After completion, you will be prompted to upload your supporting documents.
portal.iknowican.org
5
Upload Supporting Documents
Upload required documents to I Know I Can’s Scholarship Portal:
– FAFSA Submission Summary
– Screenshot of email confirmation of acceptance to Columbus State
– Unofficial high school transcript
FAQs
The Columbus Promise is for Columbus City Schools 2025 graduating seniors! You must apply during your senior year of high school to take advantage of this opportunity. There are no GPA requirements, no financial need requirements, and no immigration status requirements to apply.
To receive the scholarship, students must enroll at Columbus State Community College with a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester.
To become a Columbus Promise Scholar:
- Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible at studentaid.gov.
- Apply to Columbus State Community College at cscc.edu/apply.
- Upload required documents to portal.iknowican.org.
- FAFSA Summary
- Email confirmation of acceptance to Columbus State
- Unofficial high school transcript
There will be workshops in your high school building held over the next few months to help you complete these items. If you need help, please get in touch with the I Know I Can College Advising Manager or a school counselor in your high school building.
The Columbus Promise Scholarship covers tuition and fees after the Pell Grant (if eligible) and any tuition-restricted scholarship(s) for up to six semesters of consecutive enrollment, with summer enrollment optional. A stipend of $500 per semester is also provided.
While all Columbus Promise students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year, Pell Grant eligibility is not required to receive the award.
Columbus Promise scholars also receive access to an on-campus advisor to help provide educational and career guidance and encourage scholars to stay on track.
- Maintain the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) each semester. Students not meeting the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress will be placed on warning and have an opportunity to raise their grade point average and/or course completion rate.
- Take at least nine credit hours per term.
- Complete all mandatory student success programming, including meeting regularly with your Columbus Promise Advisor.
The final deadline for CCS Class of 2025 is August 5, 2025.
The earlier you apply, the earlier you’ll find out you’re eligible for Columbus Promise and be able to take the next steps toward receiving your Columbus Promise award and enrolling for the autumn semester.
There are many benefits to applying early! Complete your application by the May 15th priority deadline to:
- Participate in your high school’s College Signing Day activities.
- Meet other Columbus Promise Scholars and sign up for programs that will help you get a strong start in college.
- Make a plan for summer.
- Attend orientation at Columbus State.
- Register for classes at Columbus State and get the best selection of classes.
- Complete any remaining steps to receive your scholarship award.
In addition to covering the cost of tuition and fees, the program will grant students a scholarship of $500 that they can use for books or other expenses.
Columbus Promise students can work while attending college as long as they enroll in the minimum six (6) credit hours each semester and maintain continuous enrollment in autumn and spring semesters (summer enrollment is optional). Columbus Promise Advisors are on campus to help students make a plan for success around their work and college responsibilities.
Yes, when you apply, you can share your status at that time. All CCS graduates, regardless of immigration status, are eligible for the program
If you are a member of the class of 2025 and graduate in the spring or summer, then you are eligible. Students are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline of May 15, 2025. Application and enrollment confirmation must be completed by July 15, 2025.
The Columbus Promise does not have any specific student or family income requirements. All Columbus City Schools graduates are eligible to apply, but must complete a FAFSA and submit the full application.
Yes, Columbus State Community College offers support services. Once accepted into the Columbus Promise program, advisors are available to help learn more about these.
If you’re enrolled in Columbus City Schools, will graduate from a Columbus City Schools High School, and can meet the other eligibility requirements above, then you are eligible.
Yes, you’re still welcome to be part of the Columbus Promise. If you come in with a lot of college credits already, you might be able to graduate early – you can talk to your Promise Advisor about it when you make your college plan!
The Columbus Promise program requires students to remain continuously enrolled in autumn and spring semesters (summer enrollment is optional). If you have a compelling need to take a semester off, talk to your Columbus Promise Advisor about appealing the continuous enrollment requirement based on special circumstances.
Students are required to enroll in the immediate fall following their high school graduation. If you have a compelling need to delay your start, an exception may be possible. Once you complete the Columbus Promise application and receive confirmation that you are eligible for The Columbus Promise Scholarship award, you can reach out to [email protected] about appealing the requirement to enroll in the fall.
This program is only open to students graduating from a Columbus City Schools High School.
Yes! However, you will need to complete separate applications for those programs as well as meet all their requirements.
Check out more information on Weiler Scholars, Health Careers Opportunity Program, and the Honors Program.
Columbus State offers short certificate programs that can help you get a job after one or two semesters of study as well as longer programs. We encourage you to explore the Columbus State Community College academic page and learn more about their programs. Currently, programs are divided into pathways that you can explore here:
- Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- Biological, Physical, and Mathematical Sciences
- Business and Hospitality Services
- Computer Science, Information Technology, and Design
- Construction and Skilled Trades
- Education, Human Services, and Public Safety
- Health Sciences
- Engineering, Manufacturing, and Engineering Technology
You can also get an associate degree and use it to transfer to a four-year university to get a bachelor’s degree.
Currently, the Columbus Promise only includes Columbus State Community College, which does not award bachelor’s degrees. However, Columbus State can help you complete your associate degree and then transfer. In fact, Columbus State has nine universities that agree to accept all students who meet certain basic criteria; you can learn more here.
Destinee Harris: making the most of the columbus promise
Destinee Harris didn’t always see herself as a top student in high school and had planned to join the Army after graduation. However, her path took an unexpected turn when she was called down to the auditorium to hear a presentation about a new initiative called the Columbus Promise.
While skeptical at first about the program which claimed to offer Columbus City Schools graduates with free tuition to Columbus State Community College, she was intrigued about what this could mean for her future.
When she went home and told her mother about the program, it became clear—her mother knew this was an amazing opportunity and she told Destinee: “You are doing this! You are going to take advantage of what I didn’t have.”
With the help of her I Know I Can advisors, Destinee filled out the Columbus Promise application and the FAFSA and enrolled at Columbus State. She figured she didn’t have anything to lose and everything to gain.
She knew that she wanted to get a job in the medical field, so she started working on her pre-requisites and her phlebotomy certification. As she started taking college classes, she says she blossomed. She became a dedicated student who gained confidence and could see many more possibilities for her future. Instead of going with the flow, she began thinking ahead and dreaming big.
In six semesters at Columbus State, Destinee has completed five certifications (Phlebotomy, Certified EKG Technician, Clinical Laboratory, Emergency Medical Responder and CPR) and is almost finished with her State Tested Nursing Assistant certification. She has been able to work paid jobs in her field at both Ohio Health and Ohio State and is ready for the next challenge.
This summer, she will continue to work at Grant Hospital and plans to enroll at The Ohio State University to begin working to become a Radiologist. Her advice to high school seniors considering the program is simple but powerful:
“Take this opportunity. You have to take a leap and trust your gut to figure out your future. There are people at Columbus State who will help you find your way. I’m so glad I took advantage of the Columbus Promise Without it, none of this would be possible!”