Shawnee State University announced expansion to its free tuition program

The Free Tuition Program at Shawnee State University has been expanded. Students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant, have a minimum 18 ACT and 3.0 GPA, and are a first time college student are eligible for the Free Tuition Program. Previously, students who meet this criteria were only able to take advantage of this program if they were students from Scioto, Adams, Pike, Lawrence, Jackson, and Ross counties in Ohio, and Lewis, Boyd, and Greenup counties in Kentucky, but with the expansion, now students from Brown, Vinton, Highland, and Gallia counties can take advantage as well. The program began in the fall of 2022.

Shawnee State University President Jeff Bauer was quoted by the Portsmouth Daily Times about the expansion of the program, saying, “Our free tuition program has already made college possible for hundreds of students in our region. We are thrilled to be able to expand the program and look forward to welcoming more students this fall — and into the future.”

According to Bauer, the program is partially funded by money donated to the Friends of Shawnee Scholarship within the Shawnee State University Development Foundation. To fund the program’s expansion, the money raised at the annual SSU President’s Gala will be directed toward the Friends of Shawnee Scholarship fund. The gala will be held on April 22.

Bauer elaborated on the importance of expanding the program, saying, “Providing more opportunities for students of our region – who use their Shawnee State degrees to fill vital healthcare, business, education and technology jobs here in our region – benefits all of us who call southern Ohio home. We’ve received overwhelming support for our free tuition program and appreciate everything that our community members, educators and families do to help students in our region plan for successful lives after high school.”

Students who complete their application to Shawnee State University will be automatically considered for the Free Tuition Program. Eligible students will have their tuition costs covered by the program, but will still have to pay for related costs such as meals, special course fees, books, and housing.

More information about Shawnee State University can be found at the school’s website.