The Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) is Ohio's need-based grant, and how much it pays depends on what kind of college you attend. For 2026-27, a full-time student can get up to $4,000 at a public university main campus, $5,000 at a private nonprofit college and $2,000 at a for-profit school. At university regional campuses it's $492, and at community colleges, $0. To qualify, your FAFSA must show a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 3,750 or less and household income of $96,000 or less.
All figures are from the Ohio Department of Higher Education's (ODHE) OCOG guidance memo FA27-001 (May 11, 2026, updated June 24, 2026), which includes the 2026-27 award table.
2026-27 maximum awards by college type
| College type | Full-time | 3/4 time | 1/2 time | 1/4 time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private, nonprofit | $5,000 | $3,750 | $2,500 | $1,250 |
| Public university main campus | $4,000 | $3,000 | $2,000 | $1,000 |
| Private, for-profit | $2,000 | $1,500 | $1,000 | $500 |
| University regional campus | $492 | $369 | $246 | $123 |
| Community college | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Source: ODHE, 2026-2027 OCOG Award Table. Annual amounts, split across two semesters or three quarters.
These are maximums, not guarantees. ODHE sets separate, lower amounts for a few schools whose tuition is lower, including some tuition-guarantee cohorts at Central State, Shawnee State, Wright State and Youngstown State, and several small private colleges. Ohio residents at eligible Pennsylvania colleges can get $600 full time ($800 for veterans).
Who qualifies
- SAI of 3,750 or less on the FAFSA. A negative SAI counts the same as zero.
- Total household income of $96,000 or less.
- Enrolled at an eligible college. OCOG pays only toward tuition and general fees (fees charged to every undergraduate), not housing or optional fees.
Students are limited to 10 semesters (or 15 quarters) of Ohio need-based grant aid.
How the formula works
ODHE takes each sector's average tuition and general fees and subtracts the maximum Pell Grant ($7,395). The result is that sector's OCOG maximum. Two consequences:
- Community colleges get $0. Pell already exceeds their average tuition.
- Other tuition-only aid comes first. If a scholarship or waiver covers all your tuition, you get no OCOG; if it covers part, OCOG fills only what's left, up to the maximum.
Exceptions at community colleges and regional campuses: foster youth, students using federal veterans' education benefits, and students taking a third term in the same year after their Pell Grant runs out can get up to the public main campus amount.
What this means for you
- File the 2027-28 FAFSA. It's the only application.
- Expect $0 OCOG at a community college, unless you're in an exception group; Pell is meant to cover tuition there.
- At a private nonprofit college, OCOG can reach $5,000, the highest of any sector.
- In the top 5% of your class? Ask your college how the $5,000 Governor's Merit Scholarship fits into your aid package alongside OCOG.