Scholarships & Financial Aid at the University of Cincinnati

Whether you’re just beginning your Bearcat journey or returning for another semester, UC offers resources to make your education affordable. Learn how to apply for financial aid, discover scholarships and explore co-op opportunities that help offset tuition costs.

Explore your options: Select a resource below to apply for aid, search scholarships or estimate your costs.

Follow these simple steps to get started with grants, loans, and work-study programs.

1. Complete the FAFSA starting October 1
2. Review your Student Aid Report (SAR)
3. Check your financial aid offer in Catalyst
4. Accept or decline your aid
5. Reapply each year to stay eligible

The only application necessary in the financial aid process is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA opens on October 1 before the upcoming academic year and must be completed annually. We recommend completing it as soon as possible, as it determines your eligibility for the following:

• Grants — Grants are funds that are awarded based on financial need.
• Work-Study — Work-study programs are need-based employment opportunities that allow you to work and earn money to help fund your education.
• Loans — Loans are borrowed money that must be repaid. There are various types of loans that may be included in your financial aid offer.

Your financial aid offer may include any or a combination of the above funding sources. To see if you’re eligible for financial aid, view the requirements.

Scholarships at the University of Cincinnati are funds that are awarded to students toward their academic careers. They are based on academic achievements or other merit-based criteria and do not need to be repaid. The two types of scholarships at UC are:

• Internal Scholarships: Internal scholarships are generally UC funds. They are awarded to incoming freshmen students, transfer students, and graduate students.
• External Scholarships: External scholarships are scholarships awarded to students from organizations outside of UC. There are billions of dollars of external scholarship money available to students of all qualifications, abilities, and interests.

Traditional freshmen applying to the University of Cincinnati are automatically considered for all scholarships they are eligible for through the online UC application. 

To apply for external scholarships, we encourage current students to take advantage of our new “Scholarship Search” tile in Catalyst to get matched and apply to external scholarships.

The University of Cincinnati Co-op Program allows students to jumpstart their careers and cut costs. With education-based learning at its core, students who co-op earn credit toward their degree while working paid jobs in their field of study. 

Some of the ways cooperative education will reduce your student loans while you’re still in college include: 

• Gaining on-the-job experience and making connections
• Earning money while in college with the opportunity to graduate earlier
• Increasing employability by building an impressive resume

Currently, there are over 8,300 paid student Co-op opportunities provided by 1,757 industry partners. In 2024-25, UC students have collectively earned $94 million in co-op earnings.

It's important to note that each UC student's cost is individually calculated based on factors such as program of study, financial aid award, meal plan, housing selections and more. This example, while including real numbers, may not reflect your exact cost.  

• Tuition & Fees are calculated based on Ohio Resident rates. View all rates for tuition and fees. For eligible students, your tuition won't increase while continuously enrolled thanks to UC's Tuition Guarantee.
• Housing costs calculated based on traditional multiple occupancy room. View all rates for housing. 
• Meal plan costs are calculated based on the required All-Access plan for incoming freshmen. Other years represent lower selected meal plan options. Remember, your meal plan needs may change based on your co-op schedule. View all meal plan rates.
• Co-op earnings are calculated based on average hourly wages, working 35 hours per week for 15 weeks. Find out how much you can earn from co-op. 
• Scholarship earnings are calculated based on average student award. You may qualify for more scholarship aid from UC and outside scholarship sources.