Choose Ohio First Scholarship
On this page:
- About Choose Ohio First Scholarships
- Eligible Majors
- How to Apply
- Scholarship Requirements
- Contact Information
About Choose Ohio First Scholarships
Choose Ohio First (COF) scholarships are available to selected undergraduate students pursuing a STEM major or computer science-related major. The COF scholarships are competitive, varying in amounts starting at $1,500 to $5,200 annually.
Students who receive a Choose Ohio First Scholarship become immersed in a cohort model with wrap-around student support services, such as built-in advising, mentoring, co-op and internship opportunities, cohort seminars and events, and research events.
The Choose Ohio First Ohio Scholarship is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
Eligible Undergraduate Majors
STEM
- Biochemistry+Molecular Biology
- Biological Sciences
- Biomedical Engineering
- Business, Management Information Systems
- Business, Supply Chain Management
- Chemistry
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Integrated Science Studies (Lake Campus)
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Neuroscience
- Nursing
- Physics
- Public Health
- Statistics
Computer Science and Related
In response to the high demand for technology jobs, the Ohio Department of Education created a recruiting scholarship for students majoring in a computer science-related major. Wright State University in 2020 was granted $971,355 to be awarded to students over a five-year period. The average award per student is $4,000. It applies to the following majors:
- Computer Science
- Computer Engineering
- Information Technology and Cybersecurity
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology
- Bachelor of Technical Applied Studies in Graphic Design or Multimedia (Lake Campus)
Eligibility Criteria
Students must be one of the following:
- Admitted high school students entering Wright State as undergraduate students in the fall
- Admitted transfer students entering in fall semester
Students who meet the following criteria are eligible:
- Ohio resident
- Pursuing your first degree in Ohio
- Intend to enroll or be currently enrolled in a major listed above
- This is a competitive scholarship, so first consideration will be given to students with the highest GPA and test scores.
- Eligible new students will be considered for Choose Ohio First whether or not they complete the online scholarship application.
Qualified students will be notified of their award offer by April 1.
Wright State University employee dependents who are eligible for the tuition remission are not eligible for Choose Ohio First Scholarships. Please email scholarships@wright.edu to let us know if you will be receiving a fee remission.
Scholarship Requirements
Academic Component to Maintain and Renew Scholarship
- A COF scholar must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (overall AND in major). The first term a student's cumulative GPA drops below 3.0, a warning is issued. The scholarship may be terminated if the student's GPA falls below 3.0 for a second term.
- The COF scholar meets with their assigned university advisor regarding progress, problems, etc.
- Written progress reports must be submitted by each COF scholar through Pilot at the end of each enrolled term by the deadline provided.
Career Readiness Experiences Component
The COF scholar must participate in designated Career Readiness Experience activities including internships, co-op opportunities, mentoring, community outreach, or undergraduate/graduate research.
- For information about internships and co-op opportunities connect with the program director, advisor, or career consultant in your college. Go to career.wright.edu for more information.
- Access your Handshake account for internship/co-op postings
- Search the Ohio Means Jobs and the Ohio Means Internships and co-ops websites
- For information about undergraduate research opportunities in STEMM, contact your professors, advisors in
- For information on service-learning, visit the Service-Learning Courses webpage
Choose Ohio First Workshops and Events
The COF Scholar must participate in workshops and other events, some designed specifically for COF Scholars. Information is available on the Pilot sites for COF Scholars.
Contact Information
Wright State University’s Choose Ohio First scholarship program staff advisor is Mariann Boron. For computer science, the contact person is Karen Meyer.
