Removing Barriers to Higher Education
Bearcat Affordability Grant offers tuition-free option as families consider college costs
The rollout of the Bearcat Affordability Grant has attracted media attention around efforts at the University of Cincinnati to make college more accessible for students.
The new grant will provide a pathway to tuition-free college for students of families who make less than $75,000 per year and are residents of the state of Ohio. It is open to first-year students who are admitted to begin classes in fall 2026 at any of the three UC campuses. The grant covers any remaining tuition costs for students after their Pell Grant and Ohio College Opportunity Grant have been applied.
“This is our largest investment in student success in our 200-year history,” Jack Miner, vice provost of enrollment at UC told Local 12 News for a story.
Miner says growth at UC is allowing the university to cover the costs of this initiative for incoming students. He told Local 12 that the Bearcat Affordability Grant will ‘remove a huge barrier for an enormous population of students.
“Literally thousands and thousands of students will be able to look at college as an option now that they couldn't have before,” Miner told Local 12.
Miner told WLWT that the program will be transformational for students, families and the Tri-state region.
"Despite their dreams and years of hard work, college is just out of reach for so many students and families,” Miner told WLWT. “This grant will make dreams a reality for literally thousands of students."
Learn more about the Bearcat Affordability Grant online.
Review coverage of the Bearcat Affordability Grant for several media organizations:
Top featured image of new Bearcats during a student orientation in Nippert Stadium. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing Brand.
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