Ohio 4-H Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Ohio 4-H Foundation

Ohio 4‑H scholarships reward excellence in project work, leadership, citizenship and community service. Established in 1976, these awards help young people become self‑directing, productive, contributing members of society. In addition to the statewide scholarships described here, many counties offer their own awards — check with your local county extension office for a listing of county scholarships.

Important eligibility note: To be considered for the Ohio 4‑H scholarships listed here you must complete the college 4‑H scholarship application through Scholarship Universe by February 15.

Scholarships and financial aid — what you need to know
- Scholarship Universe is the central place to find and apply for most internal and external scholarships. The system matches you to scholarships based on the profile and matching questions you complete.
- To maximize financial aid, complete your FAFSA and your Scholarship Universe profile by February 1. The more completely you fill out your profile, the more matches you’ll receive.
- Do this process every year — new scholarships and renewals are added annually.
- Last year, CFAES undergraduate students received more than $3.8 million in scholarships for the Columbus and Wooster campuses.

Quick checklist — have these items ready before you start
- High school GPA and class rank
- List of academic honors and awards
- If you are or will be an Ohio State student: your OSU username (lastname.#) and OSU ID (found on your admission email)
- Name, city and state of your current or anticipated college/university
- Intended academic major
- Detailed descriptions of your major 4‑H leadership roles (role name, years, level, duties, accomplishments)
- Detailed descriptions of major 4‑H honors you’ve received
- A statement of your educational, career or personal goals and how 4‑H has influenced those goals
- A personal statement explaining why a 4‑H scholarship is important to your college plans and how 4‑H contributed to your development, leadership and likely success in life

Step‑by‑step application process
1. Log in to Scholarship Universe through Buckeye Link using your Ohio State username (lastname.#) and password, or go to https://osu.scholarshipuniverse.com/.
2. Complete your Scholarship Universe profile and answer the matching questions — the more complete, the better your matches.
3. Be sure to complete the CFAES Scholarships Application AND the scholarship application for your individual major (if applicable).
4. Scholarship Universe will match you with opportunities and alert you when new matches appear.
5. Log in frequently to check application statuses, respond to requests, and look for additional opportunities. See the user instructions and tips available on the Scholarship Universe portal.

Key timeline
- FAFSA opens: October 1, 2025
- Scholarship Universe opens: December 1, 2025
- Priority deadline for completion: February 1, 2026
- CFAES college priority deadline: February 15, 2026

Final tips from a teacher
- Start early. Draft your personal statement, collect details about roles and honors, and have someone review your application before you submit.
- Keep a folder (digital or paper) with dates, documents and draft responses so you can reuse information for future scholarship cycles.
- Don’t forget to contact your county extension office about county‑level scholarships — those often have separate deadlines and application processes.