Ohio Private Colleges Oppose Proposed Requirements for Governor's Merit Scholarship

Ohio private college presidents spoke out against proposed requirements for participating in the Governor's Merit Scholarship, arguing that the changes would compromise their institutions' autonomy and impose impractical burdens. The Ohio House added new provisions to the state budget, requiring private colleges to accept the top 10% of Ohio's graduating class and comply with parts of Senate Bill 1, which bans diversity and inclusion efforts. College leaders expressed concerns about the potential consequences, including increased operational costs, closures, and reduced financial aid.

Key Takeaways:

• The Ohio House's proposed budget requires private colleges to accept the top 10% of Ohio's graduating class and comply with parts of Senate Bill 1, which bans diversity and inclusion efforts.
• Tiffin University President Lillian Schumacher testified that the S.B. 1 mandates would increase operational costs without improving educational outcomes.
• Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education Mike Duffey stated that public universities have the infrastructure to absorb enrollment increases, while private institutions operate on smaller scales.
• The 10% acceptance mandate would create challenges for private colleges, particularly in healthcare programs that are limited to a capped number of seats.
• The Governor's Merit Scholarship has a high acceptance rate, with 76% of eligible students from the class of 2024 accepting the scholarship and 100% acceptance rates in several rural counties.
• The budget allocates $47 million for fiscal year 2026 and $70 million for fiscal year 2027 for the Governor's Merit Scholarship.

Statistics:

• 76% of the state's 6,250 eligible students from the class of 2024 accepted the Governor's Merit Scholarship.
• 100% of eligible students from Hocking, Holmes, Putnam, Adams, Monroe, Noble, and Vinton counties accepted the Governor's Merit Scholarship.
• 13% of eligible students in the second year of the scholarship (2023-2024) did not accept the scholarship.
• $47 million: the budget allocation for fiscal year 2026 for the Governor's Merit Scholarship.
• $70 million: the budget allocation for fiscal year 2027 for the Governor's Merit Scholarship.

Sources:

• "Ohio House advances its two-year budget proposal." Ohio Capital Journal, 2025, April 9.
• "Ohio House budget requires private colleges comply with diversity ban to be eligible for scholarship." Ohio Capital Journal, 2025, April 11.
• Senate Bill 1. Ohio Legislature, 136th General Assembly.
• Governor's Merit Scholarship. Ohio Higher Education, Financial Aid, and Scholarships.
• Aultman College President Jean Paddock's testimony in the Senate Higher Education Committee.