Ohio Divas for HBCUs – Gap Scholarship Program

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

The Ohio Divas for HBCUs Gap Scholarship Program was established to support academically strong, community-minded students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who demonstrate financial need and leadership potential.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

Residency
Applicants must be legal residents of the State of Ohio.

HBCU Enrollment
Applicants must be currently enrolled in, or accepted to, an accredited Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
Documentation from the institution is required.

Financial Need (Gap Scholarship Requirement)
Applicants must demonstrate unmet financial need after financial aid has been applied.
Official documentation from the HBCU Financial Aid Office is required.

Academic Achievement
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA.

Community Engagement
Applicants must provide evidence of meaningful volunteer service or civic engagement within their community.

Leadership
Applicants must demonstrate leadership experience through participation in nonprofit, civic, educational, or community-based organizations.

Award Amount

Maximum scholarship award: $2,000 per recipient

Application Period

Applications open: February 6
Applications close: March 31

Selection Process

All qualified applications will be reviewed by the Ohio Divas for HBCUs Scholarship Committee. Each of the eligibility criteria listed above will be scored on a 1–5 scale, and awards will be made based on overall merit, need, and alignment with the mission of Ohio Divas for HBCUs.