University of Cincinnati introduces Bearcat Affordability Grant

The University of Cincinnati has announced that beginning in the Fall 2026 semester, the university will offer a tuition-free education to eligible students. The Bearcat Affordability Grant will be awarded to Pell-eligible Ohio residents whose families make less than $75,000 per year. The grant will cover the remaining cost of tuition for eligible students after other scholarships and grants have been applied to tuition costs. The grant will increase accessibility to higher education for Ohio residents.

According to an article on the University of Cincinnati’s website, Neville Pinto, the university’s president, was quoted as saying of the new grant, “The Bearcat Affordability Grant strengthens families and communities across Ohio, from our largest cities to our rural regions. By removing financial barriers and expanding access to a UC education, we are preparing many more students to enter high-demand fields and contribute to a workforce that keeps our state competitive. This is an investment not only in individual students, but in Ohio’s long-term prosperity and the employers who depend on a strong, steady talent pipeline.”

The Bearcat Affordability Grant is available to incoming freshman students who are beginning their studies at any of the three University of Cincinnati campuses whose families make less than $75,000 per year. The grant will cover the remaining tuition balance for Pell-eligible students after the Pell Grant and Ohio College Opportunity Grant have been applied.

Speaking of the impact the grant will have on students who otherwise may not be able to attend college due to financial limitations, Jack Miner, who serves as the vice provost for enrollment management at the university, said, "This grant program will be transformational for students, families and for this region. Despite their dreams and years of hard work, college is just out of reach for so many students and families. This grant will make dreams a reality for literally thousands of students."

The Bearcat Affordability Grant is the latest in a long list of efforts the university has made in order to make a college education more affordable and accessible to students in the region. Other recent initiatives include the CPS Strong initiative, which provides support to students from Cincinnati Public Schools who wish to attend the University of Cincinnati, and the Next Lives Here strategic direction, launched in 2018, that aims to help more students in the region achieve a college degree.

For more information about the University of Cincinnati, visit the school’s website.