Central Ohio Technical College expands access to education through free tuition offers

Central Ohio Technical College is expanding access to education for more students through its free tuition programs. The college is expanding its existing Coshocton County Promise and Knox County Promise programs and is implementing a new Licking County Promise program, all of which will provide eligible students with free tuition to attend the college.

According to an article on Central Ohio Technical College’s website that covers the expansion of the Coshocton County Promise and Knox County Promise programs, John M. Berry, PhD, who serves as the college’s president, was quoted as saying, “The exciting upgrade of this program affords an opportunity to forever change the educational access of the region we serve. This financial support exemplifies our steadfast commitment to changing futures for the better. I can’t wait to see its lasting impact.”

The Coshocton County Promise and Knox County Promise programs were established in 2018 and 2022, respectively, and were designed to provide free tuition to students who come from families who earn less than $60,000 per year. The programs have been expanded to raise the income ceiling from $60,000 to $100,000 annually. These changes go into effect on May 18, 2026, which is the beginning of the Summer 2026 semester.

The Coshocton County Promise has been made possible through a partnership with the Coshocton Foundation’s Grace and Clarence Miller Scholarship endowment. This endowment will, for every year going forward, cover the exact tuition amount for every eligible student in Coshocton County. 

Bob Pell, the Executive Director of the Coshocton Foundation, said, “Our trustees are thrilled to help expand this program. We expect to see even higher levels of participation from Coshocton County students who have a dream for their future. No longer faced with the financial roadblock of affording tuition, they can seek higher education to achieve that dream and truly transform their lives.”

The Knox County Promise is made possible through a partnership with the Knox County Foundation. The Promise will now also be funded through a partnership between the college and the City of Mount Vernon, which share Ariel Hall, the home of the Knox campus. 

Jeffrey Scott, the Knox County Foundation Executive Director, said, “We’re proud of our long-standing partnership with COTC and excited about the expansion of the Knox County Promise program. What started as a limited pilot program is now secured for years to come. We’re thrilled about extending opportunities to even more Knox County residents.”

In a separate article on Central Ohio Technical College’s website, the establishment of the Licking County Promise program is discussed. This new program will go into effect on May 18, 2026, the beginning of the Summer 2026 semester. 

President Berry is quoted as saying of the new Licking County Promise, “This program has the potential to change the higher education accessibility landscape of our region. Such great financial support will allow a myriad new individuals to consider a journey into education, workforce development and, ultimately, generational prosperity.”

The eligibility requirements for the Licking County Promise are the same as those of the Coshocton County Promise and Knox County Promise, though students must hail from Licking County instead of Coshocton or Knox. In order to be eligible for all three of these programs, students must have a household annual income of $100,000 or less, have been a resident of their respective counties for at least one year, maintain a minimum of a 2.0 GPA while enrolled, and be enrolled in at least one credit hour of an aid-eligible certificate or degree program.

The Licking County Promise program is supported by the Newark Campus Development Fund, which has supported the college through scholarships for more than 40 years. It is estimated that more than 500 students in Licking County will be eligible to receive the funding. 

Jennifer Roberts, the executive director of the Newark Campus Development Fund, said, “We’re so grateful to all the donors who have invested their resources in scholarships at NCDF. This extraordinary opportunity would not be possible without them. It will help students who previously perceived college to be out of reach set new goals and understand they now have a clear pathway to a degree. It will bring peace of mind to families who on their own don’t have the resources to help their children reach their educational dreams.”

These Promise programs have no lifetime dollar limit, meaning students can receive funding for every semester they attend Central Ohio Technical College.

For more information about Central Ohio Technical College, visit the school’s website.