The Young Scholars Program (YSP) is a comprehensive pre-collegiate and collegiate student success program designed to enhance the academic, personal, and career development of its Scholars.
YSP is an exceptional opportunity for academically talented, first-generation students with high financial need to advance their goal of pursuing higher education.
Founded in 1988, YSP serves students from the nine largest urban public school districts in Ohio. Prospective Young Scholar students are recruited from the Big Eight urban school districts as defined by the Ohio Department of Education, plus Lorain, the Ohio school district with the largest population of Hispanic/Latino students.
YSP Public School Districts
- Akron Public Schools
- Canton City Schools
- Cincinnati Public Schools
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District
- Columbus City Schools
- Dayton Public Schools
- Lorain City Schools
- Toledo Public Schools
- Youngstown City School District
Scholars must meet all program requirements, including qualifying as low-income and being the first in their family to receive a bachelor's degree. Scholars must complete a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, with high academic achievement to be eligible for the scholarship. Scholars in good academic standing receive a robust financial aid package from The Ohio State University, consisting of federal and state grants, work-study, and the Young Scholars Award.
Our Scholars receive:
- Pre-college preparation through intensive college advising
- Group and one-on-one academic coaching and mentoring
- College planning tools and resources
- Academic, leadership, and social engagement at The Ohio State University
- Guided major and career exploration
- An opportunity to attend a world-class research university with a generous scholarship
In particular, YSP seeks to:
- Enhance the academic preparation of Scholars for success at The Ohio State University.
- Increase the numbers of first-generation, low income targeted underrepresented students at The Ohio State University.
- Complement instruction offered during the academic year.
Connecting multiple levels of education, each year, YSP assists over 1,000 students state-wide, including 700 students in grades 8-12 and 350 undergraduate students, serving as a stepping stone for success at Ohio State and beyond.
