Published: 07 Apr 2026 436 views
This program provides undergraduate tuition assistance to a child, spouse, and qualified former spouse of peace officers, fire fighters and certain other safety officers who are killed in the line-of-duty, anywhere in the United States. It also provides undergraduate or certificate tuition assistance to the children and spouses of a member of the armed services of the U.S., who has been killed in the line of duty during Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or a combat zone designated by the President of the United States. The student is eligible for this program if he/she is an Ohio resident and/or does not qualify for the Ohio War Orphan & Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship Program.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Fund will provide benefits which cover 100% instructional and student fee charges at public colleges and universities and $10,672 per year at private (non-profit and for-profit) post-secondary institutions, for students enrolled in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Fund will provide benefits not to exceed $8,000 per academic year for instructional and student fee charges at public and private (non-profit and for-profit) post-secondary institutions, for students enrolled in a certificate program.
Recipients are required to be current Ohio residents. However, recipients are not required to have been Ohio residents at the time the service member was killed in the line of duty. You must be obtaining an associate’s or bachelor's degree or enrolled in a certificate program.
The child or spouse of a member of the armed services of the US must have the following documents: Copy of Marriage Certificate and Copy of the Report of Casualty. Take these documents to the participating institution and they will contact the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
The child or spouse of the police officer or fire fighter or any other certain peace/safety officer, must get a letter from Cheryl Ribble (614-628-8381 or by email [email protected]), indicating that the parent or spouse was killed in the line of duty. These contacts are at the Police and Fire Pension Board. The student may also obtain a letter from the police chief or fire chief indicating that the parent or spouse was killed in the line of duty. Take the letter to the participating institution and they will contact the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
For more details, visit Ohio Department of Higher Education Scholarship Webpage
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