$20,000 starting aid package
The Main Street Scholarship

All Students are Welcome on Main Street.

At Capital University, education is accessible for all. With the Main Street Scholarship, Capital has committed to leveling the playing field and creating a more diverse and equitable community through equal opportunity education.

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$20,000 starting aid package
All are eligible.

About the Main Street Scholarship

The Main Street Scholarship promises a minimum of $20,000 annually to all accepted, full-time, undergraduate students who are entering their first year of college, including transfer and international students. That’s right. Every student who meets these criteria qualify for a MINIMUM annual award of $20,000. But that’s just the start. We have additional support that covers up to full tuition and undergraduate fees for high performing students with the greatest need.

The Main Street Scholarship is awarded annually and is potentially renewable for up to eight semesters. Renewal is dependent on minimum GPA requirements and full-time enrollment.

ACCESS

Too many students miss out on academic opportunities due to financial barriers. The Main Street Scholarship provides a starting aid package of $20,000 to all accepted, first-time college students. Added to this is Project Indigo, our network and technology platform that customizes your classroom and extracurricular experiences. Project Indigo provides undergraduate students with an iPad and Apple Pencil and an expanded library of apps and tools to make learning happen in real-time.

COMMITMENT

Capital distinguishes itself by our commitment to each student’s success, in and out of the classroom. And now, our commitment extends even further. The Main Street Scholarship establishes our commitment to investing in you and your future. A quality education with unparalleled support is available to you at Capital. You’ll find this – and so much more – on Main Street.

OPPORTUNITY

Capital is a smaller school located right next to a city of big opportunities. Access to internships, hands-on learning, and a network of alumni and partners will prepare you for life after graduation. As a student, you’re not just a number. We know you by name, allowing us to provide you with individualized attention that is a key to learning. We invite you to apply and open your door to the possibilities that await.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Main Street Scholarship is a merit-based award offered by Capital University to every incoming, undergraduate student. With The Main Street Scholarship, Capital has committed to creating a more diverse and equitable community through accessible education. We believe that motivated students should not be excluded from a quality education because financial capacity. For this reason, Capital provides the opportunity for students to receive a significant award to assist them in reaching their educational goals.

The lowest Main Street Scholarship (MSS) amount new and transfer undergraduate students will receive is $20,000, and most students receive a higher MSS amount, all the way up to full tuition and university fees! Capital uses a holistic application review to consider your merit and academic achievements. As with all institutional aid, students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and be enrolled as a full-time student to maintain the Scholarship award.

Capital University’s Financial Aid Office offers a Net Price Calculator that can give you an estimate on where you may land with scholarships and other aid. We encourage students and families to our Admission team to learn more via phone (614-236-6101) or email (admission@capital.edu).

Beginning in fall 2023, new undergraduate students who are Ohio residents, have a GPA of at least 3.5/4.0, complete the FAFSA, and have a household income of $60,000 or less, qualify for free tuition and university fees.

Also beginning in fall 2023, new transfer students from Columbus State Community College who are Ohio residents, have a GPA of at least 2.5/4.0, complete the FAFSA, and have Pell eligibility, qualify for free tuition and university fees.

This full-tuition and fees award is determined after all scholarships and federal and state grant aid are calculated and applied to tuition costs. These scholarship dollars cannot be applied to room and board, books, or other expenses.

If you’ve already applied to Capital, you’ve already done it! Your admission application is also your scholarship application at Capital. If you have questions about your scholarships and financial aid package, reach out to your Admission Counselor or reach our whole team via phone (614-236-6101) or email (admission@capital.edu) and we will walk through your full award with you.

If you still need to apply, complete an application to Capital University via The Common Application OR Capital University’s online application at capital.edu/apply. The application is free.

A complete application includes an official high school transcript. While no essay is required, we do recommend submitting an essay for evaluation.

International students are encouraged to apply for the Main Street Scholarship and can qualify for the $20,000 minimum award. For specific questions about international scholarships, please contact the Admission office.

Completion of the FAFSA is encouraged, but not required to qualify for the foundational $20,000 Main Street Scholarship award. To be considered for the full tuition and university fees award, a FAFSA must be submitted. We encourage all students to complete the FAFSA to identify additional resources that may be available to them through state or federal funds as well as from Capital University.

Yes! Residential status (living on campus vs. commuting from home) is not a factor of eligibility for The Main Street Scholarship.

For residential students, fees associated with room and board cannot be paid for by The Main Street Scholarship. The Scholarship can only be applied to tuition and undergraduate fees. Residential students (students living on campus) are eligible for the Comet Community Award, a $1000 scholarship that can be applied toward housing and meal plan costs.

Not sure if commuting or living on campus is right for you? Let us help you decide! We’re happy to share information on both experiences and show you your financial aid package for living on and campus and commuting so you can make the best decision for you.

  • Yes! The Main Street Scholarship is just the beginning. Historically we’ve offered more than $50 million dollars in scholarships, grants and aid annually to make Capital more affordable for students and their families, with 99 percent of traditional undergraduate students receiving financial aid from Capital.
  • Capital offers two forms of financial aid: merit-based and need-based. Merit-based awards are offered as scholarships and grants and are based on a student’s academic performance, talent, and affinity. To see the full list of merit awards, please visit our Financial Aid page.
    • When granting merit-based awards for first year students, Capital considers:
      1. High school GPA.
      2. ACT/SAT test scores, if provided.
      3. Transcripts and performance on music auditions and scholarship competitions, including Collegiate Fellowship, Capital Scholars, and Battelle Scholars.
      4. Student interests and relationships, and affiliations (i.e., family member is a Capital graduate, siblings or family members who are current students, Lutheran church affiliation).
    • When granting merit-based awards for transfer students, Capital considers:
      1. College GPA
      2. Transcripts and performance on music auditions and scholarship competitions, including Collegiate Fellowship, Capital Scholars, and Battelle Scholars.
      3. Student interests and relationships, and affiliations (i.e., family member is a Capital graduate, siblings or family members who are current students, Lutheran church affiliation).
    • For all students, need-based awards are given over and above government grants and loans. Eligibility is based solely on the outcome of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submitted by the prospective student and their family. Factors such as test scores or athletic ability have no bearing on need-based awards.

We encourage you to contact the Admission Office with any questions: 614-236-6101 or admission@capital.edu. Additional scholarship opportunities are listed on our Financial Aid page.

The Main Street Scholarship launched in Fall 2022. Current Capital students are not eligible for review under The Main Street Scholarship criteria. We encourage current students to connect with financial aid to explore additional scholarship opportunities.