Second Chance Grant Program (2024)

NOTE: The FY24 appropriation for the Second Chance Grant has been fully allocated. We are accepting applications for students who will begin their enrollment after July 1, 2024

The State of Ohio further strengthened its commitment to assisting students in attaining a degree or credential through the establishment of the Second Chance Grant. The objectives of the Second Chance Grant are to reduce financial barriers preventing Ohioans with some college credit but no bachelor’s degree from returning to higher education and to increase the number of Ohioans with a degree or credential.

The Second Chance Grant provides financial assistance in the form of $3,000 grants to eligible students re-enrolling at a qualifying institution in order to obtain a degree or credential. Second Chance Grants are applied against the student’s cost of attendance (COA) after all need-based federal and state grants have been applied. Grants are awarded on a first-come first-serve basis.

Resources

• Online Application Portal Link
  • Online Application Portal Instructions
  • Application Portal Updates (March 2023)
• Enrollment Verification, Funds Disbursem*nt and Return of Funds Processes
• Annual Reports:2022| 2023

Key Information

Click on a topic for more:

Overview

Approximately 1.5 million Ohioans have earned some college credit but no degree. It is critical to the continued economic well-being of the State of Ohio that a substantial number of these former students earn a credential. Indeed, economists have indicated that increasing the number of Ohioans with postsecondary degrees or credentials is necessary for Ohio to remain economically competitive and meet the workforce needs of the future. As we think about ways to increase postsecondary enrollment and meet Ohio’s workforce needs, we should explore as many creative options as possible to incentivize these former students to come back to our institutions.

In pursuit of this goal, and in order to facilitate the return to higher education by Ohioans who stopped out prior to crossing the finish line, the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) recently issued guidance for voluntary institutional debt relief programs titled College Comeback.

With the passage of Senate Bill 135, the State of Ohio further strengthens its commitment to assisting students in attaining a degree or credential through establishment of the Second Chance Grant in Ohio Revised Code (section 3333.127). Qualifying institutions are encouraged to market the Second Chance Grant to disenrolled students who may wish to renew their pursuit of a degree or credential.

The objectives of the Second Chance Grant Program are to reduce financial barriers preventing Ohioans with some college credit but no bachelor’s degree from returning to higher education and to increase the number of Ohioans with a degree or credential. As such, qualifying institutions are recommended to promote the Second Chance Grant Program to students who have demonstrated that they are likely to be able to earn a degree or credential in a reasonable amount of time if given an increase in financial support. Qualifying institutions may wish to prioritize grants to students who are within one-year of completion, for example. It is also strongly encouraged that institutions combine the Second Chance Grant with other financial aid programs and debt forgiveness programs (i.e., College Comeback) to maximize the financial benefit to the re-enrollee and additionally incentivize stopped-out students to consider returning.

The Second Chance Grant Program provides financial assistance in the form of $3,000 grants to eligible students re-enrolling at a qualifying institution to obtain a degree or credential. Second Chance Grants shall be applied against the student’s cost of attendance (COA) after all need-based federal and state grants have been applied. In order to accept these funds, a qualifying institution must have a published CoA or restrict the grant’s use to tuition and fees. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve rolling basis.

Eligibility

Student eligibility requirements are as follows:

• The re-enrollee is a resident of the State of Ohio.
• The re-enrollee has not obtained a bachelor’s degree from any accredited institution of higher education.
• The re-enrollee disenrolled (“stopped out”) from a qualifying institution of higher education (see below) in Ohioand did not transfer to another institution of higher education in the two semesters or eight months immediately following the disenrollment.
• The re-enrollee was in good academic standing with no record of disciplinary issues (including suspension or expulsion) at the time of disenrollment.
• The re-enrollee is enrolling in a qualifying institution within five years of their disenrollment.
• The re-enrollee is not enrolled in the College Credit Plus program. Please note that for the purposes of the Second Chance Grant, participation in the College Credit Plus program is not considered enrollment at a qualifying institution.
• The re-enrollee completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and accepts any federal and state need-based grants and/or scholarships to which the student would be entitled as verified by the receiving institution.
• The re-enrollee is pursuing a credential or degree beyond that which they already possess. Second Chance grantees must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree, associate degree, undergraduate certificate, or certification. There are no restrictions on a particular major or program. Students who already possess a degree or credential MUST be pursuing a degree or credential beyond that which they already possess to qualify for a Second Chance Grant:
  • Students possessing an associate degree must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
  • Students possessing a certificate must be pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree.
  • Students possessing a certification must be pursuing a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree.
• The re-enrollee is not a recipient of one of the following state supported scholarships: Choose Ohio First Scholarship, Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund, War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans’ Scholarship Program, or Ohio National Guard Scholarship.

Qualifying Institutions are defined as one of the following:

• A state institution of higher education, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code;
• A private nonprofit institution of higher education that holds a certificate of authorization pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code;
• An institution with a certificate of registration from the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code;
• A private institution exempt from regulation under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code as prescribed in section 3333.046 of the Revised Code;
• An Ohio Technical Center, as defined in section 3333.94 of the Revised Code.

Pre-Registration

Qualifying institutions must pre-register their intention to participate in the Second Chance Grant program. Once your institution is pre-registered, you will be provided access to the online application portal for the second Chance Grant. All applications must be submitted through the application portal.

To pre-register your institution, please send an email tosecondchancegrant@highered.ohio.govand include the following:

1. Institution name
2. First and last nameof one designated employee to be provided access to the Second Chance Grant application portal
3. Title of thedesignated employee to be provided access to the Second Chance Grant application portal
4. Email addressof the designated employee to be provided access to the Second Chance Grant application portal
5. Phone numberof the designated employee to be provided access to the Second Chance Grant application portal

Students do NOT pre-register or apply for Second Chance Grants. Students should contact theFinancial Aid Officeat the institution they intend to enroll in. The institution will apply for the grant on the student's behalf.

Application

Institutions may make an offer of a second chance grant to qualifying students as soon as they apply for admission. When institutions make an offer of a grant, the student should be informed that there are a limited number of grants available and receiving the award may be dependent upon the date of the student’s acceptance into the institution.

When a qualifying student is accepted, the institution will notify ODHE through the Second Chance Grant application portal. Second Chance Grant application portal instructions are available on the Second Chance Grant webpage and updated as needed. As the Second Chance Grants are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis, it is recommended that applications be submitted on a regular (i.e., daily) basis immediately following successful admission to the institution by the re-enrollee. Upon receipt of the information, ODHE will reserve an award for the admitted student. Please note that all fields within the web portal are required to be completed for an application to be considered submitted.

One of the required fields is the census date – the census date is the point in an academic program or term when a student’s enrollment is verified for financial aid purposes. Institutions participating in the Second Chance Grant Program must verify applicants’ enrollment through the online application portal within two weeks of the census date. Institutions will need to indicate a census date for each application submitted via the online portal. The census date is for the individual applicant and should reflect that applicant’s first term (semester or quarter) of attendance. For many students this will be the start of a traditional academic term, but if students will be taking their first course(s) in an alternate term (such as courses that begin in the second half of the semester), the census date recorded should be for that alternate term. For institutions that do not use a traditional academic term (semesters or quarters), census date (for financial aid purposes) is calculated as the point in which 20% of the course or program has been completed.

Enrollment Verification

The process for verifying enrollments begins when an application has reached its census date. An email will be generated and sent to the institution’s designated Second Chance Grant contact stating that one or more applications are ready for enrollment verification. The institutional contact will need to log in to the Second Chance Grant Application Portal to verify enrollment. After enrollment has been verified by checking the box, ODHE will be able to process the payment and disburse the funds.

Voided Applications

If an application has not had enrollment verified within 10 business days of the census date, the application will be voided. After 30 days, all voided applications will be deleted from the Second Chance Grant application portal. If an application needs to be deleted for any reason, the institution’s Second Chance Grant point of contact should email secondchancegrant@highered.ohio.govand indicate which application should be deleted by referencing the date/time stamp.

Award

Second Chance Grants shall be awarded by ODHE to the re-enrollee’s institution after verification of enrollment on the institution’s census date. Grants will continue to be awarded on a rolling basis until such time that allocated funds are exhausted. While grants are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, ODHE reserves the right to make modifications to the grant award process to better attain the goals and objectives of the program and the State of Ohio. This may result in distribution of awards to achieve an appropriate balance of geographical region, institutional sector, and/or demographic factors.

Disbursem*nt

Once enrollment has been verified, ODHE will disburse funds. The Second Chance Grants will be disbursed from ODHE’s subsidy system. The funds will come from the State of Ohio and will reference BOR01 which is ODHE’s business unit. There is typically a comment that will say, “subsidy.” It is recommended that Second Chance Grant points of contact alert the accounting department or treasurer of the amount to be received ($3,000 x number of verified applications) to help match up the payment.

Grants shall be applied against the student’s COA after any federal or state need-based grants have been accepted and applied. If any amount of the $3,000 Second Chance Grant remains after applying it to the re-enrollee’s COA for the academic year, the remainder shall be applied to any future year in which the student is enrolled, and the Second Chance Grant program is operating. The institution shall return to ODHE any amount remaining after the re-enrollee graduates or disenrolls from the institution or after the Second Chance Grant program ceases to operate.

Return of Funds

It is possible that an applicant may withdraw from an institution after enrollment has been verified, or an applicant may not make use of their full $3,000 award toward their cost of attendance. If this occurs, funds may need to be returned to ODHE, depending on the timing of the withdrawal;

1. If the student drops before the 100% refund withdrawal date (presumably before financial aid has been disbursed), then the institution should email secondchancegrant@highered.ohio.gov informing ODHE of the situation and referencing the student’s application date/time stamp as identifier, and return the funds (see process below).
2. If the student drops after financial aid awards have been applied to their account and refunds issued, then funds do not need to be returned.

To return funds, first contact ODHE through the Second Chance Grant email (secondchancegrant@ highered.ohio.gov) referencing the student’s application date/time stamp. Funds may be returned via check or ACH payment. Checks should be payable to Treasurer, State of Ohio and mailed to the address below.

Reporting

Qualifying institutions receiving grant funds agree to provide additional data on grantees’ program(s) of study at their previous and current institution(s), retention, progress toward credential, enrollment status, credential status, and any other grant-related information as requested by ODHE.

FAQs for Students

How do I apply for a Second Chance Grant?

Students do NOT pre-register or apply for Second Chance Grants, themselves. Students should contact theFinancial Aid Officeat the institution they intend to enroll in. The institution will apply for the grant on the student's behalf.

How do I know if the school I want to go to is participating in the Second Chance Grant program?

The Second Chance Grant can be used at nearly any school that is approved to operate in Ohio. These include:

• Community colleges, state community colleges, and technical colleges
• Independent, non-profit colleges and universities
• Independent, for-profit colleges and universities
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If the student qualifies for any need-based grants (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, or Ohio College Opportunity Grants), the student will need to accept those grants. The amount of those grants is subtracted from the student’s COA, and the Second Chance Grant (up to $3,000) is applied to the remainder.

I earned a certificate when I went to a community college before. Do I qualify for the grant?

Yes. Students who earned a certificate or an industry certification but have not earned a degree are eligible for the Second Chance Grant provided they meet all other qualifications for the grant. Students MUST be pursuing a credential or degree beyond what they currently possess, so if you have already possess a certificate, you will need to be pursuing a degree (associate or bachelor’s).

I have an associate degree. Do I qualify for the grant?

Yes. Students who have earned an associate degree are eligible for the Second Chance Grant if they meet all of the other eligibility criteria and are pursuing a bachelor’s degree. The Second Chance Grant may not be used to earn a second associate degree or a certificate or certification if a recipient already has an associate degree.

I tried college before and I’m not interested in earning a degree, but I do want to earn a certification to get a better job with better pay. Can this grant be used for a certification?

Yes. Students who have some college credit but do not yet have a degree and are now seeking a non-degree certification or certificate are eligible for the Second Chance Grant program.

Do I have to go back to the school that I left to use this grant?

No. While you can use the Second Chance Grant at your previous institution, you don’t have to. You can use the grant at any qualifying school regardless of which Ohio public university or community college that you attended previously.

What is Cost of Attendance (COA)?

Cost of Attendance is the amount of money it will cost for a student to attend a college or university. COA is typically calculated as an estimate of the cost of tuition and fees, room and board (or living expenses), books, supplies, transportation, allowance for child or dependent care, and other miscellaneous costs.

What does it mean when it says, “Second Chance grants shall be applied against the student’s cost of attendance (COA) after all need-based federal and state grants have been applied?”

To receive a Second Chance Grant, a student must apply for federal and state financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If the student qualifies for any need-based grants (Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, or Ohio College Opportunity Grants), the student will need to accept those grants. The amount of those grants is subtracted from the student’s COA, and the Second Chance Grant (up to $3,000) is applied to the remainder.

What if the remainder of my COA is less than the $3,000 of the Second Chance Grant? For example, what if the remainder of my COA is only $2,500 after accepting federal and state need-based grants?

In this case, the Second Chance Grant would be applied to the remaining $2,500, completely covering the COA for this term. The remaining $500 would roll over to the next term that the student is enrolled. If the student leaves after this term (graduates or withdraws from the college or university), the college or university will return the remaining $500 to the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

I’m still a bit confused. Who can I contact with questions?

If you know which institution you are thinking of attending, you can contact that institution’s financial aid department for more information. You can also contact the Ohio Department of Higher Education by emailing secondchancegrant@highered.ohio.gov.

FAQs for Institutions

I don’t know that we will have any qualified students. Should my institution pre-register?

There is no downside to pre-registering your institution. Pre-registration does not engender a commitment on your institution’s part. The advantage is that you are prepared if you do have a qualified student enroll.

How does the first-come, first-serve nature of the program operate?

The designated institutional employee can add applications to the application portal for any studentwho has been admitted to the institution. Each application will be date/time-stamped to indicate when it has been completed. Upon receipt of a completed application, ODHE will reserve a $3,000 award for that student. Please note that only completed applications will result in an award reservation.

Are there limits on what credentials or degrees Second Chance grantees may be pursuing?

Second Chance grantees must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree, associate degree, undergraduate certificate, or certification. There are no restrictions on a particular major or program. Students who already possess a degree or credential MUST be pursuing a degree or credential beyond that which they already possess in order to qualify for a Second Chance Grant.

• Students possessing an associate degree must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
• Students possessing a certificate must be pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree.
• Students possessing a certification must be pursuing a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree.

I notice that institutions receiving grant funds agree to provide additional data on grantees. What are the data reporting requirements for the Second Chance Grant?

ODHE anticipates that institutions will be asked to report on grantees each term that they are enrolled. A report will be sent to each institution that receives an award each year. While it is possible that there may be some additional data necessary, it is expected that the initial reporting required will be the following fields (per grantee):

• Student Identifier
• Institution
• Term and Year of Enrollment
• Cost of Attendance
• Amount of any State/Federal Need-Based Grants Awarded
• Amount of Second Chance Grant Used for the Term
• Degree and Current Program of Study
• Most Recent Previous Institution
• Most Recent Previous Enrollment Date
• Program of Study at Previous Institution
• Credential or Degree earned at Previous Institution (if any)

After the grantee’s initial term, it is expected that reporting required will be the following fields (per grantee):

• Term and Year
• Amount of Second Chance Grant Used for the Term (if any)
• Current Registration Status
• Credits Earned Since Enrollment (if any)
• Credential or Degree Earned Since Enrollment (if any)

Other than information on the website, how is the ODHE promoting this program across the state?

While ODHE is engaged in some marketing of the program through press releases, social media and the website, it is our hope that individual institutions will market the program to potential students.

Does the student need to be a new re-enrollment to the institution, or can the funds be applied to a student who is currently in a program?

The student does need to be a new enrollee at the institution. Current students are not eligible for the Second Chance Grant Program.

The institution I represent is eligible to participate in Title IV student financial aid programs, but several of our programs do not qualify for financial aid due to length. Is a FAFSA still required for these students seeking a Second Chance Grant in these shorter programs?

Yes, the FAFSA is still required even if a program is not Title IV eligible.

The institution I represent is eligible to participate in Title IV student financial aid programs, but is not actively participating in Title IV financial aid programs. Are enrollees to my institution eligible for a Second Chance Grant, and would they need to fill out a FAFSA?

An institution is eligible to participate in the Second Chance Grant program even if it is not active in Title IV Financial Aid programs. Any potential Second Chance Grantee would still need to fill out the FAFSA.

My institution has multiple campuses in Ohio. Should each campusapply as a separate institution?

Multi-campus institutions must apply as one institution. A single designated individual will need to process all applications from anycampus.

It seems clear that a student who possesses a certification can pursue a certificate if they did not receive any certificate previously. For example, a student who has a phlebotomy certification (qualified through work experience) could pursue an EKG certificate as long as they didn’t earn a phlebotomy certificate (or any other certification) previously. Is this correct?

This is correct. The intention is to incentivize an upward track in terms of educational attainment, ideally stimulating a life-long learning approach to education.

How do I calculate a“Census Date?”

The census date is the point in an academic program or term when a student’s enrollment is verified for financial aid purposes. Institutions participating in the Second Chance Grant Program will verify applicants’ enrollment through the online application portal within two weeks of the census date. Institutions will need to indicate a census date for each application submitted via the online portal. Please note that this census date is for the individual applicant and should reflect that applicant’s first term (semester or quarter) of attendance.

For most students this will be the start of a traditional academic term, but if a student will be taking their first course(s) in an alternate term (such as courses that begin in the second half of the semester), the census date recorded should be for that alternate term.

For institutions that do not use a traditional academic term (semesters or quarters), census date (for financial aid purposes) is calculated as the point in which 20% of the course/program has been completed. Please see the table below for more detail.

Note: the census date may be after the point in which a student will be able to withdraw for a full (100%) refund.