The student experience
As part of their pathway to a debt-free degree, Scarlet & Gray Advantage students utilize scholarships, family contributions, work opportunities, and learning experiences focused on financial coaching and career development.
Partner Network
The Scarlet & Gray Advantage program empowers eligible Ohio State students to earn their bachelor’s degree without levels of debt that limit their potential or diminish their future opportunities.
Members of the Scarlet & Gray Advantage Partner Network engage with Buckeye talent while helping students explore careers and contribute financially to their education.
Employers' role
To support work opportunities, members of the partner network offer summer internships that enable students to gain work experience while earning money to support their college education.
How to help
Employers can support the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program by offering summer 2024 internships and work experiences. Contact the Scarlet & Gray Advantage team today to learn how you can get involved at advantage@osu.edu.
Key Facts
Pilot program
Beginning in 2022, the university established a pilot cohort of 125 new first-year students. We welcomed an additional 150 students to the program in 2023. Taking a holistic approach to the socioeconomic barriers that lead to student debt, each Scarlet & Gray Advantage cohort engages in financial literacy and career navigation learning experiences, secures work opportunities, and receives financial support to eliminate student loans.
Summer 2024 needs
Ohio State is working with employers to provide internship opportunities and work experiences for members of the pilot cohorts. Employers participating in the Partner Network will have work and internship opportunities posted and promoted through the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program. These can be opportunities created specifically for Scarlet & Gray Advantage cohort members (rising second- and third-year students) or existing opportunities available to college students. Opportunities available through the Partner Network will be identified in Handshake, Ohio State's university-wide position posting system for students, and will be actively promoted to Scarlet & Gray Advantage students through required meetings and newsletters.
Expectations and pay rates
Summer 2024 experiences should provide at least 16 hours of work per week, over 10 weeks. Internships generally would be offered between May 9 and August 15. To empower students to financially contribute to their college expenses, students will look for opportunities earning at least $15 per hour.
How students will prepare
Scarlet & Gray Advantage cohort students participate in targeted program such as career exploration programs and workshops focused on professional identity and expectations that will enhance their readiness for internships and work experiences.
Pilot launches, offering students pathways to debt-free degrees
Learn more about the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program, including details about the pilot that will help the university create a debt-free bachelor’s degree.
Read more
FAQs
Work opportunities, including paid internships, are an important component of the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program because they help students prepare for careers while earning money toward their college education.
Beyond work, students who participate in the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program will have enhanced access to scholarships and learning experiences focused on financial coaching and career development. Depending on their circumstances, students may have an expected family contribution, and work can contribute to fulfilling that financial responsibility.
For more information on the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program, see advantage.osu.edu.
Ohio State is currently seeking internship opportunities and work experiences during summer 2024 for rising second- and third- year students. An organization can create new opportunities specifically for Scarlet & Gray Advantage students or promote existing opportunities.
To empower students to prepare for post-graduation careers, in addition to financially contributing to their education, internships and work experiences should be a minimum of 16 hours per week, with most ranging from 20-36, over a period of 10 weeks. Students' pay should equate to, at least, a $15 per hour rate.
No. Ohio State strongly encourages Scarlet & Gray Advantage students to seek summer internships and other work opportunities, but they are not required to accept them.
Ohio State will add organizations to the Partner Network on a rolling basis. Ideally, organizations will join between October and December with opportunities posted between November and March. Students will participate in career development workshops and activities in as they search and secure internship opportunities. Internships and work-related experiences will take place over a minimum of 10 weeks between May 9 and August 15.
The 275 students in the Scarlet & Gray Advantage cohorts are talented and diverse. They represent each of Ohio State’s campuses, come from more than half of Ohio’s 88 counties, and are pursuing majors in 57 disciplines representing at least 11 colleges.
Jennifer Chilman, associate director of employment relations and internships, is available to answer additional questions and help organizations begin the process. Her email is chilman.1@osu.edu.
The Scarlet & Gray Advantage program is described in more detail at advantage.osu.edu.