About the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program
Ohio State created a short video highlighting the benefits of participating in the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program and how to accept the invitation to join.
Pilot Program Invitation
Scarlet & Gray Advantage, a bold new Ohio State program, empowers you to earn your degree, debt-free. By actively participating in the program, you will have opportunities to graduate on time without needing student loans.
What Scarlet & Gray Advantage offers
Scholarships
Cover the full cost of attendance by combining scholarships and grants with your family contribution.
Work opportunities
Gain experience and support your education through jobs and paid internships.
Learning experiences
Prepare for careers and develop financial skills through a learning community.
How to join the program
Ohio State is inviting a select group of new first-year students to participate in a pilot program that will launch this year (2022). If you were invited to the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program and are ready to earn your degree, debt-free, please fill out the To Do List item in My Buckeye Link.
Frequently asked questions
Please review the following questions and answers for more information about the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program.
If you have other questions, please contact advantage@osu.edu (and include your phone number).
Ohio State will provide students in the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program with enhanced access to scholarships, work opportunities and a learning community focused on financial coaching and career development.
Ohio State is inviting a select group of new first-year students to participate in the second cohort for the 2023-2024 academic year.
If you received an emailed invitation, please fill out the To Do List item in My Buckeye Link. By completing the MyBuckeye Link form to join the program, you will commit to take advantage of financial aid, work opportunities and learning experiences offered through the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program.
Participants in the Scarlet & Gray Advantage pilot will benefit from the program right away. Here are some of the major next steps:
- Financial aid: The university will review your existing financial aid package and add scholarship support if appropriate. Ohio State will ensure that your financial aid package, plus your family contribution, covers the total estimated cost of attendance — tuition, mandatory fees, housing, dining and indirect costs like books and personal expenses.
- Learning community: You will have opportunities to learn how to navigate college, understand college finances and begin the process of career exploration — all while meeting your peers in a caring and supportive learning community. Virtual workshops this summer will provide Q&A sessions as well as information about financial aid and campus employment. Autumn semester will include a 1-credit course that meets every week with a learning community specialist. And spring programming will include 1-on-1 coaching sessions and monthly workshops and community events.
- Work opportunities: Campus employment will be available to those interested in jobs during the academic year. After your first year, you will have the opportunity for paid summer work (jobs, internships or research positions) with Ohio State and a network of other employers. Students can use these opportunities to gain valuable work experience and help them financially support their education.
Your aid package will either increase or stay the same — you will NOT receive less aid.
If you join the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program, the university will ensure that your financial aid package, plus your family contribution, covers the total estimated cost of attendance — tuition, mandatory fees, housing, dining and indirect costs like books and personal expenses.
If needed, Ohio State will add scholarship funding to close any gap in your existing aid package.
Before taking out a student loan, participants in the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program consult with a financial aid counselor. Ohio State’s counselors will help students fully understand their options based on their individual circumstances.
If you have already taken out a student loan for the upcoming academic year, a counselor will work with you as part of the university’s re-evaluation of your current financial aid package.
The Scarlet & Gray Advantage learning community will provide coaching, workshops and other experiences where you can learn how to navigate college, develop your personal finance skills and begin the process of career exploration — all while meeting your peers in a caring and supportive learning community.
This summer, the learning community will offer virtual workshops for all students in the program. In autumn semester, a 1-credit course will meet weekly to support students. And spring semester will include 1-on-1 coaching sessions, monthly workshops and community events.
On an ongoing basis, the learning community will be integrated with university programs such as Buckeye Careers, Scarlet and Gray Financial coaching and the Second-Year Transformational Experience Program (STEP).
Ohio State will help participating students identify paid work opportunities, both during the academic year and during summers, to help them financially support their education and develop work experience. Work opportunities may include Federal Work-Study, on-campus jobs, paid internships, research positions and jobs with third-party employers.
You will decide whether to accept work opportunities offered through the university or associated networks. You may always choose to pursue outside job or other work opportunities.
No. The Scarlet & Gray Advantage program is designed to allow you to graduate, debt-free, within four years. You will not have to re-apply to continue each year. (The university’s commitment to the Scarlet & Gray Advantage funding is available for up to eight semesters.)
Participating students will sign a commitment recognizing their responsibility to actively participate in the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program by taking advantage of financial aid, work and learning opportunities.
The student commitment spells out the following expectations:
- Academic progress: Enroll full-time and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. The university’s commitment to the Scarlet & Gray Advantage funding is available for up to eight semesters.
- Financial aid: Complete the the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. Submit applications annually for all applicable financial awards through ScholarshipUniverse. I understand my financial aid package may include a required family financial contribution.
- Financial aid counseling: Meet with my Ohio State financial aid counselor and use associated resources to inform my financial aid decisions.
- Work opportunities: Pursue work opportunities that will support career exploration and allow me to contribute financially to my education. I will create a profile on the Handshake website.
- Learning experiences: Join the Scarlet & Gray Advantage learning community, which will focus on financial coaching and career development.
Like other students, participants will be expected to follow the Student Code of Conduct and all other relevant university requirements.
Students who do not meet program requirements may limit or lose their ability to participate in the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program.
No. Participating students may pursue any academic field of study and other Ohio State program, including other learning communities.
Students interested in study abroad or other optional educational opportunities may need to obtain additional grants to support these activities. University counselors will work with students to identify available funding.
You will begin at Ohio State based on your current plans and existing financial aid package. Going forward, you can take advantage of all existing opportunities for scholarships, jobs and internships, financial coaching and career development programs.
We will welcome you as a Buckeye — you simply won’t be part of this specific program.
This is likely to be your only opportunity to join the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program. If you decide not to participate, you can still take advantage of all of Ohio State’s other opportunities for scholarships, jobs and internships, financial coaching and career development.
Please contact the Scarlet & Gray Advantage team at advantage@osu.edu with your questions. Please include your phone number and any other contact information so that we can respond effectively.