Ohio State University Scholarships 2026 are now open for ambitious graduate students seeking academic and professional growth. These highly competitive awards provide financial assistance along with valuable opportunities to gain practical experience while pursuing a graduate degree at Ohio State University.
Through these scholarships, students can engage in diverse fields such as facilities management, special events, member services, group fitness, and personal training. By combining financial support with real-world professional development, Ohio State ensures that recipients not only excel academically but also build strong career-ready skills.
Benefits of Ohio State University Scholarships 2026
- Receive a monthly stipend of approximately $2,682.
- Full tuition waiver (including in-state, out-of-state, and international students).
- Potential summer employment opportunities (not guaranteed).
- Valuable leadership and professional development experience in recreation and sports management.
Eligibility Criteria for Ohio State University Scholarships 2026
To apply for a Rec Sports Graduate Assistantship at Ohio State University, candidates must:
- Apply to the Graduate School and enroll in either:
- Master of Science in Kinesiology, Sport Management OR
- Master of Arts in Educational Studies, Higher Education and Student Affairs
- Hold a minimum 3.0 GPA for admission into graduate school.
- Submit an application and supporting documents (resume and cover letter).
- Applications from other graduate programs will not be considered.
Available Graduate Assistantship Positions
Ohio State’s Rec Sports Graduate Assistantships provide leadership, training, and supervision experience across multiple areas:
- Facilities Graduate Assistant – Oversees operations at Jesse Owens North and South Recreation Centers, North Recreation Center, and Adventure Recreation Center. Responsibilities include facility management, purchasing, event supervision, and student staff leadership.
- Special Events Graduate Assistant – Coordinates and manages nearly 600 events each year at the Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC), including athletic tournaments, banquets, meetings, and reservations.
- Member Services Graduate Assistant – Supervises 120+ student staff members at the RPAC Welcome Center, Sport Shop, and access control operations.
- Group Fitness Graduate Assistant – Manages hiring, training, and development of group fitness instructors and supervisors, as well as program administration.
- Personal Training Graduate Assistant – Supports programming in personal training and small group fitness, including workshops, body composition testing, and exercise program design.
Available Subjects
To qualify for the Graduate Assistantship in Recreational Sports, students must apply to Ohio State University’s Graduate School in one of the following programs:
- Master of Science (M.S.) in Kinesiology, Sport Management
- Master of Arts (M.A.) in Educational Studies, Higher Education and Student Affairs
How to Apply for Ohio State University Scholarships 2026
- Complete the 2026–2027 Rec Sports Graduate Assistant Application (applications via BluefishJobs.com will not be accepted).
- Submit your cover letter and resume directly to Kolby Carothers, Student Staff Training Specialist at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ohio State University Scholarships 2026 include merit-based awards (for first-year U.S. students), President’s Ohio, Morrill, Stamps Eminence, and departmental scholarships. Apply by OSU’s early action deadline (often November 1), use ScholarshipUniverse by Feb 15, and check department-specific requirements.
What are Merit Scholarships at Ohio State for the Incoming Class of 2026?
Merit scholarships at OSU reward outstanding academic achievement among first-year students entering in Fall 2026. These are university-funded, non-repayable awards. International students are not eligible for most merit scholarships.
How do you apply for merit-based scholarships for 2026 at Ohio State?
To be considered, you must apply for admission by OSU’s early action priority deadline November 1, 2026. Most merit awards are automatic with admission; some require additional steps or essays.
What is the President’s Ohio Scholarship Program?
The President’s Ohio Scholarship gives full cost of attendance for up to 8 full-time semesters, plus up to $5,000 enrichment grant. It’s for first-year Ohio residents who earn a perfect ACT (36) or SAT (1600) score on a single test date and apply by November 1.
What is the Stamps Eminence Scholarship?
The Stamps Eminence Scholarship is a highly competitive award combining Honors, leadership, service, and character. It covers full cost of attendance and includes enrichment grants. Applicants must apply by early action deadline and complete Stamps application.
What is the Morrill Scholarship Program?
The Morrill Scholarship Program is for academically talented high school seniors committed to leadership, service, and civic engagement. It offers educational enrichment and is applied for via the Columbus campus application, ideally by the early action deadline.
Are there scholarships for international students at Ohio State in 2026?
Yes. OSU offers many scholarships for international students. To be considered, file the FAFSA (if eligible) and create a ScholarshipUniverse profile by the priority date (Feb 15). Some departments also offer special-eligibility scholarships.
What are Ohio State Scholars Programs and how do they relate to scholarships?
Ohio State Scholars Programs are themed living-learning communities. First-year students indicate interest in them on their application. Being part of these programs often aligns with scholarship eligibility under Merit, Morrill, or Stamps programs.
What is ScholarshipUniverse and why is it important?
ScholarshipUniverse is OSU’s scholarship-matching platform. Students create a profile to get matched with internal and external scholarships. Many scholarship applications require registering through ScholarshipUniverse.
What is the Ohio State Lima campus scholarship process for 2025-2026?
At Lima, students must complete the “Ohio State Lima Scholarship Application” via ScholarshipUniverse by February 15 for priority consideration. Over $450,000 is awarded annually from more than 40 scholarship funds.
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