Youngstown State sits halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, and its pricing is built for families on both sides of the state line. Out-of-state students pay only $360 a year more than Ohio residents, and the Penguin Tuition Promise freezes both tuition and room and board for four years from the day your student starts. Merit money is simple: a five-tier automatic grid, a separate Honors application layered on top, and a handful of housing awards most families never hear about.
GPA 3.0+ with ACT 19+ / SAT 990+ (or test-optional)
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-optional (scores unlock the top two tiers)
Scores needed for some merit tiers
Competitive awards have a no-test path
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Feb 15 • FAFSA: Dec 1
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Youngstown State (Read This First)
Test-optional money has a ceiling. Without a score, the most your student can get automatically is the Deans’ award ($3,000/yr), and only with a 3.9+ GPA. President’s needs real scores; Trustees’ is valedictorian-only.
One Excellence award per student. YSU’s automatic tiers do not stack with each other, and the MLK Merit Award is listed inside that same program. Honors and housing money are what actually add on top.
Treat December 1 as the real money deadline. YSU’s own pages disagree: the 2026-27 Financial Aid Guide and catalog say the FAFSA and Housing Grant priority date is December 1, while the web page says February 1. File by December 1 and you are covered either way.
Honors is a second application. Getting admitted to YSU does not put your student in the Honors pool. The Honors tuition and housing awards only come through the separate Sokolov Honors College application.
Sign the scholarship letter by May 1. Offers arrive on a rolling basis after admission. YSU asks families to sign and return the acceptance by May 1.
Not every housing award combines. The Marching Band housing award cannot be paired with Honors housing. Pick the bigger one before you commit.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Youngstown State University is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).
Do you need test scores for scholarships at Youngstown State University? First Opportunity, Red and White, and Deans' awards have a GPA-only test-optional route, but the President's award requires an ACT or SAT score.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 21; SAT: 1040.
Average net price? About $11,740/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No broad regional reciprocity path.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Youngstown State University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in September 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Youngstown State University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$500 to $1,200 more than the in-state total below.$500 to $1,200 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$23,717
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$11,717
Housing & meals (typical)
$12,000
Total billed cost
$23,717
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$24,077
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$12,077
Housing & meals (typical)
$12,000
Total billed cost
$24,077
That is $360 more per year than Ohio residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $11,740 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
Why YSU Is a Pittsburgh-Area Sleeper
Most public universities charge out-of-state students double. YSU charges them $360 more per year. For a family in western Pennsylvania, that makes YSU priced like an in-state school, and the automatic scholarships apply the same way regardless of where you live. Pennsylvania residents can also use their PA State Grant at YSU.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Youngstown State University
Why is out-of-state tuition only $360 more?
YSU cut its out-of-state surcharge to a flat $360 per academic year. For 2026-27 that means $11,717 in tuition and fees for Ohio residents and $12,077 for everyone else. There is no reciprocity program to apply for; the discount is simply the price.
What does the Penguin Tuition Promise actually lock in?
Tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board are all frozen at your student’s starting rate for four consecutive academic years. New students starting in fall 2026 saw a 3 percent tuition increase; students already enrolled did not. The catch: it rewards finishing in four years, so a fifth year is priced at whatever the rates are then.
Does the $12,000 housing number include food?
Yes. The Fall 2026 cohort rate is $12,000 for the academic year in Kilcawley, Lyden, Wick, or Cafaro House, and it includes a full meal plan, laundry, and internet. A single room adds $1,750 per semester. There is also a $35 application fee and a $250 prepayment to hold a room.
What is YSU’s full cost of attendance?
YSU’s official 2026-27 budget for a bachelor’s student is $30,687 in-state and $31,047 out-of-state. That adds estimated living expenses, transportation, books, and personal costs to the billed tuition. The table above shows only what YSU bills directly.
Is the average net price really around $11,700?
That is the federal average after grants and scholarships, not loans. Because YSU’s sticker price is already low and its merit is automatic, many families land near or below that number, especially with an Excellence award plus housing aid.
Can Pennsylvania students use state grant money at YSU?
Yes. YSU lists the PA State Grant as aid available to Pennsylvania residents attending YSU. The 2026-27 deadline was May 1, and your FAFSA must be processed by PHEAA.
By December 1: File the FAFSA (school code 003145) and the Housing Grant form if your student will live on campus.
By February 1: YSU Foundation scholarship application and Choose Ohio First (STEM) priority date.
By February 15: Admission application and transcripts in for automatic Scholarships for Excellence. Send the Honors application too.
By May 1: Sign and return the scholarship acceptance letter.
Parent rule of thumb: treat the earliest date as your real deadline, even if your student is still deciding.
Automatic Merit Scholarships: Youngstown State University
YSU’s Scholarships for Excellence are awarded automatically once your student is admitted. There is no scholarship form. Just get the admission application and transcripts in by February 15. Awards are the same whether you live in Ohio, Pennsylvania, or anywhere else.
No Test Score? Here Is Exactly What Grades Buy
High School GPA (no score)
Automatic Award
Four-Year Value
3.0 to 3.49
First Opportunity
$4,000
3.5 to 3.89
Red & White
$8,000
3.9 and above
Deans’
$12,000
Any GPA
President’s and Trustees’ not available
Needs ACT 27 / SAT 1290, or valedictorian
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidApp Requiredstate residency
Ohio Governor's Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: School nomination by Oct 1; student must accept by May 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Top 5% of the graduating class at an Ohio public or chartered nonpublic high school, ranked by GPA at the end of junior year; nominated by the school by Oct 1; must accept in the state portal by May 15 or it is rescinded; Ohio colleges only
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $5,000 a year for four years, and it can be applied to any cost up to the college's cost of attendance, not just tuition. Stacks with every college award. Renews automatically at a 3.0 GPA with 20 credits a year. Enrolling out of state forfeits it for good.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Youngstown State University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Top-5% seniors whose school submitted the nomination and who then logged into the portal and clicked accept by May 15. The May 15 step is where awards die: it is a separate action from the college deposit, and students who are still deciding between schools sometimes let it lapse.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Ohio College Opportunity Grant
📅 Deadline: FAFSA by the college's priority date; state cutoff Oct 1 ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Ohio resident; FAFSA Student Aid Index of 3,750 or less AND household income of $96,000 or less; main campus of a public university; tuition and general fees only
✚
Stacking & Combining
$4,000 a year at a public main campus for low-income Ohio families, prorated for part time. Pays tuition and general fees only, and a student whose tuition is already fully covered by other tuition-specific aid gets nothing. Stacks with Pell and with college awards that cover housing or other costs. Ten-semester lifetime cap.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Youngstown State University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Families under $96,000 with a low Student Aid Index. The one that surprises people is the tuition-only rule: a student with a full-tuition merit award from the college loses OCOG entirely, because there is no tuition left for it to pay.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyservice
Ohio War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Application by May 15 for the following year ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Child of an Ohio veteran who died in service or has a service-connected disability rating of 60% or more; apply between ages 16 and 24; Ohio public colleges
✚
Stacking & Combining
For 2026-27 the board set it at 77% of tuition and general fees at an Ohio public college. Stacks with Pell and college aid; cannot be combined with Choose Ohio First or the Second Chance Grant.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Youngstown State University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of veterans with a 60%-plus VA rating who apply during the May-to-May window before the age cutoff. The age limit is the trap: it is an application-age limit, not an enrollment-age limit, so a 24-year-old who waits loses it.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
First Opportunity
📅 Deadline: February 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~19 ACT✎ ~990 SATTest-optional path: 3.0 to 3.49 high school GPA with no score submitted. SAT figure is critical reading plus math only.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One of YSU's Scholarships for Excellence. Students can hold only one Excellence award.
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,000 per year for up to four years ($4,000 total). Renewal requires 24 credit hours per academic year (at least 12 per term) and a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Full-time enrollment is required for the money to pay out.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a solid B average (3.0) and an ACT 19 or SAT 990, or a 3.0 to 3.49 GPA with no test score at all. This is the floor of guaranteed money at YSU, worth $4,000 over four years just for applying on time.
Automatic
Red & White
📅 Deadline: February 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~22 ACT✎ ~1110 SATTest-optional path: 3.5 to 3.89 high school GPA with no score submitted. SAT figure is critical reading plus math only.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One of YSU's Scholarships for Excellence. Students can hold only one Excellence award.
💡
Strategic Detail
$2,000 per year for up to four years ($8,000 total). Renewal requires 24 credit hours per academic year (at least 12 per term) and a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 3.0 GPA and ACT 22 or SAT 1110, or a 3.5 to 3.89 GPA with no scores. No essay, no interview. Grades plus an on-time application do all the work.
Automatic
Deans'
📅 Deadline: February 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~25 ACT✎ ~1220 SATTest-optional path: 3.9 or higher high school GPA with no score submitted. This is the highest tier reachable without a test score.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One of YSU's Scholarships for Excellence. Students can hold only one Excellence award.
💡
Strategic Detail
$3,000 per year for up to four years ($12,000 total). Renewal requires 24 credit hours per academic year (at least 12 per term) and a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 3.5 GPA and ACT 25 or SAT 1220, or near-perfect grades (3.9+) and no test score. If your student is a strong student who does not test well, this is the ceiling of automatic money, so it is worth knowing exactly where that line sits.
Automatic
President's
📅 Deadline: February 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~27 ACT✎ ~1290 SATTest scores required. There is no test-optional path at this tier. SAT figure is critical reading plus math only.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One of YSU's Scholarships for Excellence. Students can hold only one Excellence award.
💡
Strategic Detail
$4,000 per year for up to four years ($16,000 total). Renewal requires 24 credit hours per academic year (at least 12 per term) and a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 3.5 GPA who post an ACT 27 or SAT 1290. Scores must be official and in by February 15. One extra ACT sitting that moves a 25 to a 27 is worth $4,000 over four years here.
Automatic
Trustees'
📅 Deadline: February 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Valedictorians only. No test-optional path is listed.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Top Scholarships for Excellence tier. Students can hold only one Excellence award.
💡
Strategic Detail
$5,000 per year for up to four years ($20,000 total). Tied to valedictorian status rather than a GPA and test grid. Renewal requires 24 credit hours per academic year (at least 12 per term) and a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who finish first in their high school class and enroll full time. It is the biggest guaranteed award YSU publishes.
Automatic
Martin Luther King Merit Award
📅 Deadline: February 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPANew graduates of these schools only: Campbell Memorial, Cardinal Mooney, Chaney, East, Farrell, John F. Kennedy, Niles McKinley, New Castle, Sharon, Struthers, Summit Academy, Ursuline, Warren G. Harding, Valley Christian, Youngstown Early College. Test-optional with a 3.0 GPA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Listed within Scholarships for Excellence; the one-award rule appears to apply.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $1,000 per year for up to four years ($4,000 total). Renewal requires 24 credit hours per academic year (at least 12 per term) and a 3.0 cumulative GPA. YSU lists this award inside its Scholarships for Excellence table, and says students cannot receive more than one Excellence award, so confirm with Financial Aid whether it adds to or replaces a tier award.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students graduating from one of 15 named Youngstown-area, Warren, Niles, and western Pennsylvania high schools with a 3.0 GPA. It matters most for students whose scores would not reach an Excellence tier, since it is test-optional at 3.0.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Transfer Level 2
📅 Deadline: February 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 3 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 TransferAt least 12 transferable college credit hours and a 3.0 cumulative college GPA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship for $2,500 per year combined.
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,000 per year for up to three years ($3,000 total). Prorated for part-time enrollment (6 hour minimum). Renewal requires 12 credit hours per academic year and a 3.0 GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students transferring in with 12 or more credits and a B average who get their application in by February 15. No essay and no test scores.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Transfer Level 1
📅 Deadline: February 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 3 yrs)
$1,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA🎓 TransferAt least 12 transferable college credit hours and a 3.5 cumulative college GPA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship for $3,000 per year combined.
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,500 per year for up to three years ($4,500 total). Prorated for part-time enrollment (6 hour minimum). Renewal requires 12 credit hours per academic year and a 3.0 GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students transferring in with 12 or more credits and a 3.5 GPA. Community college students who are also Phi Theta Kappa members get the best transfer deal YSU offers.
Data last verified Sep 27, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Students can receive only one Scholarships for Excellence award. SAT benchmarks count critical reading plus math only. Every tier renews with 24 credit hours a year (at least 12 per term) and a 3.0 GPA, so a light semester can cost the award.
Automatic Merit: FAQs (Youngstown State)
Do we need a separate scholarship application?
No. The admission application plus transcripts (and scores, if you are using them) by February 15 is all it takes. The only extra form in this program is the Honors application.
Can my student get an automatic award without test scores?
Yes, up to the Deans’ level. A 3.0 to 3.49 GPA earns First Opportunity, 3.5 to 3.89 earns Red & White, and 3.9 or higher earns Deans’. President’s requires ACT 27 or SAT 1290.
Is it worth retaking the ACT?
Often, yes. Moving from a 25 to a 27 changes Deans’ ($3,000/yr) into President’s ($4,000/yr), which is $4,000 over four years for one Saturday morning.
Does the MLK Merit Award add to an Excellence award?
YSU lists it inside the Scholarships for Excellence program, which allows one award per student. If your student graduated from an eligible school and also qualifies for a tier, call Financial Aid (330-941-3505) to confirm how it will be packaged.
What about transfer students?
Transfers with at least 12 transferable credit hours get $1,000/yr with a 3.0 GPA or $1,500/yr with a 3.5, for up to three years. Phi Theta Kappa members can add another $1,500/yr on top.
What do we need to keep it?
Full-time enrollment, 24 credit hours per academic year (at least 12 each term), and a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Youngstown State does not currently publish a flagship full-ride competition for incoming freshmen. YSU once ran the Leslie H. Cochran University Scholars program, a full tuition, room, and board award for 40 freshmen a year, but it does not appear on YSU’s current scholarship or Honors pages. If your student is contacted about it, ask the Honors College directly. Otherwise, plan on YSU money coming from three layers: an automatic tier, the Honors awards, and housing aid.
✅ How YSU Money Actually Stacks
Aid Type
Stacks with Excellence Award?
YSU Parent Translation
Scholarships for Excellence
N/A
One award per student, $1,000 to $5,000 a year.
Honors Tuition + Housing
Yes
Up to $3,000 tuition plus up to $3,000 housing on top of the tier award.
Housing Awards (Band, Club Sports, Returner)
Yes
They stack with tuition money, but not always with each other. The band award only pairs with the Housing Grant.
YSU Foundation + Choose Ohio First
Usually
Separate applications. COF is tuition-only and may not pair with full-ride or remission awards.
Need-based grants (Pell, OCOG, PA State Grant, Housing Grant)
Yes
Filing the FAFSA early is what unlocks these. December 1 is the safe date.
Here is what a strong YSU package can look like: a President’s award ($4,000) plus a full Honors tuition award ($3,000) and full Honors housing award ($3,000) is $10,000 a year against a direct cost of about $23,700. That is not a full ride, but it is real money without an essay contest.
This institution does not offer designated Competitive scholarships at this time.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Does YSU have a full-ride scholarship?
Not one that YSU currently publishes for incoming freshmen. The only full-tuition paths we can verify are national Army or Air Force ROTC scholarships, covered in Hidden Gems.
What happened to the Cochran University Scholars program?
It was YSU’s signature full ride for decades, but it is not listed on today’s Scholarships for Excellence or Sokolov Honors pages. We are not going to promise money we cannot verify. Ask the Honors office (330-941-2772) if your student is a top applicant.
What is the most a freshman can realistically stack?
A Trustees’ award ($5,000) plus Honors tuition and housing ($6,000) is $11,000 a year, before need-based grants and Foundation awards.
Is YSU a National Merit, Stamps, or QuestBridge school?
No. YSU does not participate in these programs.
Where should we spend application energy instead?
The Honors application and the YSU Foundation application. Both are short compared with national competitions, and each can add thousands a year. Our Brag Sheet Builder helps pull activities together fast.
The automatic award takes care of itself. The rest of YSU’s money is hiding behind three forms that are not part of the admission application:
FAFSA (school code 003145) by December 1. It unlocks Pell, Ohio’s OCOG, the PA State Grant, and the Housing Grant.
Housing Grant Application on the Financial Aid site, right after the FAFSA, if your student will live on campus.
YSU Foundation Scholarship Application by February 1. One form matches your student to more than 1,100 donor scholarships of $500 or more.
Parent translation: skip these and you still get the automatic award, but you leave the gap-filling money on the table.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards are not automatic for incoming freshmen, but most stack with an Excellence award. YSU is unusually generous with housing money, so pay attention to which housing awards combine and which do not.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
YSU Foundation Scholarship Application
📅 Deadline: February 1 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradIncoming and current YSU students. Requires access to the Penguin Portal to upload a screenshot of the Student Profile.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Foundation awards generally stack with Scholarships for Excellence and other aid, subject to cost of attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Once admitted, log into the Penguin Portal, then complete the YSU Foundation application on Submittable (linked from the Scholarship Opportunities page) by February 1.
💡
Strategic Detail
One application matches students to more than 1,100 donor scholarships across majors, each worth $500 or more. The Foundation provides over $11 million in scholarship support to YSU students every year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who actually fill it out. It is separate from the admission application, so many admitted freshmen never see it.
App Required
Choose Ohio First (STEM)
📅 Deadline: February 1 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Ohio residents in an eligible STEM major. FAFSA encouraged but not required.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with most other aid, but it is tuition-only, so students on tuition remission or a full-ride scholarship may not be able to receive it.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to YSU in an eligible major, then submit the Choose Ohio First undergraduate application (linked from the COF page) by February 1 along with transcripts.
Selection criteria: Program-based review of academic achievement, STEM major, and in some cases financial or demographic priorities.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
State-funded STEM scholarship run through four YSU cohort programs (REEL, InSPIRE, SAiD, GrEaT). Undergraduate cohorts average about $4,000 per year. Scholars attend monthly cohort meetings and complete a research, co-op, or internship experience. Initial offers go out in mid-February.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who are Ohio residents heading into science, engineering, computer science, IT, or data work and who apply by February 1. Summer Math Bridge participants get priority consideration.
App Required
YSU Housing Grant (need-based)
📅 Deadline: December 1 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Students planning to live in YSU residence halls or the University Courtyard Apartments. FAFSA must be received before submitting.
✚
Stacking & Combining
The only housing award that can be combined with the Marching Band Housing Excellence Award.
📄
How to Apply
File the FAFSA (YSU code 003145), then complete the Housing Grant Application on the Financial Aid site.
💡
Strategic Detail
Need-based grant toward YSU housing. Amounts are not published. Continuing students reapply by February 15.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with financial need who plan to live on campus and file the FAFSA and the Housing Grant form early.
App Required
Marching Band Housing Excellence Award
📅 Deadline: First-come, first-served; no fixed deadline (apply for housing and pay the deposit early) ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 2 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~18 ACT✎ ~910 SATMarching Pride members (any major) with at least a 3.0 high school GPA and ACT 18 or SAT 910. Must live in university-owned housing, including the Courtyard Apartments.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with tuition scholarships like Scholarships for Excellence. Among housing awards it combines only with the need-based Housing Grant, so it cannot be paired with an Honors housing award.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the Marching Pride membership form, apply for YSU housing and pay the deposit early, then submit the Housing Excellence Award application on the award page.
Selection criteria: Eligibility based on band participation and on-campus housing; not a high-stakes competitive selection.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $2,000 per year ($1,000 per semester), renewable once for a second year. Members must attend all performances, play in a spring ensemble, volunteer at recruitment events, and keep a 3.0 GPA. The housing deposit is refundable until May 1.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who march in high school, want to keep playing in college, and move fast. About 70 percent of the band are non-music majors, and the money goes first-come, first-served.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Club Sports Housing Experience Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Set annually by Campus Recreation Non-Renewable
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradOn-campus residents who are active members of a recognized club sport and complete five community service hours with Campus Recreation.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Housing award; cannot be paired with the Marching Band Housing Excellence Award. Confirm combinations with Campus Recreation.
📄
How to Apply
Join a recognized club sport, complete five service hours with Campus Recreation, and apply through the Club Sports page.
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,000 per semester toward housing for up to 30 students each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who played a sport in high school, want to keep competing at the club level, and live on campus.
App Required⚠ Transfer Only
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 3 yrs)
$1,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 TransferActive Phi Theta Kappa members transferring to YSU. Not available to incoming freshmen who happen to be PTK members.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks on top of a Transfer Level 1 or Level 2 award for $3,000 or $2,500 per year combined.
📄
How to Apply
Send proof of active PTK membership (card or certificate) to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and enroll in at least 6 credit hours.
Selection criteria: Eligibility-based; awarded automatically upon verification of active PTK membership.
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,500 per year, split between fall and spring, renewable up to three years. Prorated below full time (6 hour minimum). Renewal requires 12 credit hours per academic year and a 3.0 GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students coming from community college with PTK membership who remember to send proof. Many never do, and the scholarship does not appear until the membership card or certificate is on file.
Automatic⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Returner Housing Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Automatic after move-in (no application) ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 3 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 UpperclassmenReturning residents who previously completed a housing contract, live in a residence hall again, are full time, and hold at least a 2.0 GPA with good conduct standing. Does not apply to the Courtyards or Weller House.
✚
Stacking & Combining
May be stacked with other housing scholarships, but will not create a refund if housing is already covered.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $1,000 per academic year ($500 per semester) applied to residence hall room and board. Domestic and international students are eligible; no FAFSA needed.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who stay in the residence halls after freshman year. It is an easy $1,000 a year that most families do not know exists.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Academic Achievement Award
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 3 yrs)
$500–$1,500/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA🎓 All UndergradCurrent YSU students only (not incoming freshmen): 24 credit hours completed at YSU and a 3.5 GPA. Not available to anyone already holding a Scholarships for Excellence award.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Part of the Scholarships for Excellence program, so it cannot be held alongside another Excellence award.
💡
Strategic Detail
$500 per academic year, renewable up to three years ($1,500 total). Prorated for part-time enrollment (6 hour minimum). Renewal requires 12 credit hours per academic year and a 3.5 GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who arrived without an Excellence award (or started part time) and then earned a 3.5 at YSU. It is a small but real reward for students who hit their stride after enrolling.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
AVI Hirsch-Satrum Leadership Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Spring application window set by Student Activities (no fixed date published) Non-Renewable
$1,250
✔ Stackable
👥 ~8 winners/yr🎓 All UndergradCurrent full-time undergraduates in good standing who plan to attend YSU the following year. Not for incoming freshmen.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Applied to fall tuition and fees alongside other aid.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the online application and send the reference form to one to three faculty or staff advisors. Winners are chosen by the Student Awards Committee.
Selection criteria: Selection based on scope and impact of leadership roles and service activities.
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $1,250 toward fall tuition and fees. Created by merging the former AVI Leadership Scholarship (2013) and Hirsch-Satrum Leadership Scholarship (2015). Eight students were recognized in 2026.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who are visible campus leaders in student organizations, orientation, Greek life, or student government, with one to three faculty or staff references.
Automatic
International Housing Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Automatic with an on-campus residence hall contract (no separate application) Non-Renewable
$2,000
✔ Stackable
New full-time undergraduate F-1 students living in Cafaro, Lyden, or Kilcawley House.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with tuition scholarships, but students who receive a Sokolov Honors housing award are not eligible for this one.
💡
Strategic Detail
$2,000 total for the first year ($1,000 fall, $1,000 spring). Spring starters receive $1,000. Housing scholarships for nonresident aliens are subject to tax withholding (14 percent for F-1).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students arriving from abroad on an F-1 visa who choose to live in the residence halls their first year.
Full TuitionApp Required
Army ROTC Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Start the national Army ROTC application by March 4, 2027 (High School Class of 2027 cycle) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition, fees, books, and stipend
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers tuition and fees; YSU merit may be adjusted so total tuition aid does not exceed tuition, but other aid can go toward housing and other costs.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the national Army ROTC scholarship portal, list YSU, complete the fitness assessment and interview, and contract as a cadet on enrollment. Questions: armyrotc@ysu.edu.
Selection criteria: National ROTC boards consider academics, leadership, physical fitness, and officer potential.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
National Army ROTC scholarships cover full tuition and fees or room and board, plus a $420 monthly stipend during the school year and $1,200 per year for books. Accepting the scholarship carries an eight-year service obligation.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who are U.S. citizens, meet Army academic, fitness, and medical standards, and are selected by the national scholarship board. YSU cadets can also start ROTC in college with no commitment and compete for campus-based scholarships later.
Full TuitionApp Required
Air Force ROTC (via Kent State Det. 630)
📅 Deadline: Varies by AFROTC scholarship board, typically December to March ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition, books, and stipend
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can cover full or partial tuition plus books and a stipend; YSU tuition aid may be adjusted so total tuition aid does not exceed tuition.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the national AFROTC High School Scholarship Program, then complete Kent State's crosstown cross-registration form every semester.
YSU students take Air Force ROTC through a crosstown agreement with Kent State University's Detachment 630, enrolling full time at YSU and taking aerospace studies classes at Kent.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who are U.S. citizens with strong academics and fitness who are willing to commute to Kent for ROTC classes.
Data last verified Sep 27, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Can my student combine housing awards?
Sometimes. The Returner Housing Scholarship stacks with other housing awards. The Marching Band Housing Excellence Award combines only with the need-based Housing Grant, so it cannot sit on top of Honors housing. Compare the numbers before choosing.
Does my student have to be a music major for the band award?
No. About 70 percent of the Marching Pride are non-music majors. The award needs a 3.0 high school GPA and ACT 18 or SAT 910, and it goes first-come, first-served.
Who qualifies for Choose Ohio First?
Ohio residents in an eligible STEM major. Awards average about $4,000 a year, renew with a 3.0 GPA, and include research or internship requirements. The priority date is February 1.
What is the YSU Foundation application?
A separate donor-scholarship application on Submittable. It is due February 1 and needs a screenshot of your student’s Penguin Portal profile, so start it as soon as your student is admitted.
Are there awards for current students?
Yes. The Academic Achievement Award ($500/yr) rewards a 3.5 after 24 YSU credits for students without an Excellence award, the Returner Housing Scholarship pays up to $1,000/yr for staying in the halls, and the AVI Hirsch-Satrum Leadership Scholarship (up to $1,250) goes to campus leaders.
The Sokolov Honors College is where YSU’s second layer of scholarship money lives. Admission is not automatic: your student applies to YSU first, then completes a separate Honors application. Students who meet the minimums are considered for the full tuition and housing awards.
Minimum criteria: 3.5 high school GPA plus ACT 26 or SAT 1240
No test score? For 2026-27, YSU encouraged applicants with a 3.5 GPA and no score to apply
What Honors asks in return: 24 honors credit hours by graduation, 60 hours of community service every year, and campus engagement
Honors College Scholarships
App Required
Honors Tuition Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February 15 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~26 ACT✎ ~1240 SATMinimum criteria: 3.5 high school GPA plus ACT 26 or SAT 1240. For 2026-27, applicants with a 3.5 GPA and no test score were also encouraged to apply. Must be admitted to YSU first.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks on top of a Scholarships for Excellence award and the Honors housing award.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to YSU as a first-time freshman, then complete the Sokolov Honors College application. Official transcripts and any test scores must reach Admissions before awards post.
Selection criteria: Holistic Honors review emphasizing GPA, test scores where submitted, academic rigor, leadership, service, and engagement.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Domestic freshmen: $1,000 to $3,000 per year toward tuition, renewable for three more years (four total) while meeting annual Honors requirements. Students meeting the minimum criteria are considered for the full $3,000; others may get a partial award. International freshmen: $1,000 tuition, but YSU's two scholarship pages disagree on whether it starts in year one or year two, so confirm with Honors.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 3.5 GPA and ACT 26 or SAT 1240 who complete the separate Honors application. Stacked with a Deans' or President's award, that is $6,000 to $7,000 a year in tuition money before any housing help.
App Required
Honors Housing Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February 15 ✓ Renews (2 yrs)
$1,000–$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~26 ACT✎ ~1240 SATAdmitted Sokolov Honors College freshmen living in YSU housing. Minimum criteria 3.5 GPA plus ACT 26 or SAT 1240 (test-optional applicants encouraged for 2026-27).
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the Honors tuition award and Scholarships for Excellence. Cannot be combined with the Marching Band Housing Excellence Award, and Honors housing recipients are not eligible for the International Housing Scholarship.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted to the Sokolov Honors College, then apply for YSU housing (the housing application opens in early February).
Selection criteria: Eligibility-based among admitted Honors students living in Honors housing; awards scaled based on strength of honors application and funding availability.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Domestic freshmen: $1,000 to $3,000 per year toward housing for two years. One year must be used in the residence halls; the second can be used in the halls or the University Courtyard Apartments. International freshmen: $2,000 per year for two years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students admitted to Honors who live on campus. Paired with the tuition award, it is the biggest combined package most YSU freshmen can reach.
Data last verified Sep 27, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
*Students who meet the minimum criteria are considered for up to $3,000 tuition and $3,000 housing. Students below the minimums may still receive partial awards.
Timing Note: Honors scholarships are for students entering as new freshmen. A student who starts at YSU and joins Honors later as a current student is not considered for Honors scholarships. Apply as a high school senior. Deferring from fall to spring keeps the award; a longer deferral may require reapplying.
Programs That Run Through Honors
YSU-BaccMed: An enhanced pre-med track with potential early assurance to NEOMED or LECOM medical schools.
College Credit Plus in Honors: CCP students with a 3.5 GPA and ACT 26 / SAT 1240 can join while still in high school.
Tressel Institute for Leadership and Teamwork: Leadership programming housed in the Honors College.
Honors College: FAQs (Youngstown State)
Is Honors admission automatic with a high GPA?
No. Your student must submit the separate Sokolov Honors application after applying to YSU. Awards post once official transcripts and any scores arrive.
Is there a deadline?
YSU does not post a separate Honors deadline. Send it by February 15 alongside the Scholarships for Excellence date to be safe.
How long do the awards last?
Tuition awards run up to four years; housing awards run two years (one in the residence halls, one in the halls or University Courtyard Apartments). Both require meeting annual Honors requirements.
Is 60 hours of service a year a lot?
It is about two hours a week during the school year. It is manageable, but it is the most common reason students lose Honors status, so plan for it from the start.
What about international students?
International Honors freshmen receive $2,000 per year toward housing and a $1,000 tuition award. YSU’s two scholarship pages disagree on whether the tuition award starts in year one or year two, so confirm with the Honors office (honors@ysu.edu).
Youngstown State is a hands-on, career-first university in the middle of the Cleveland to Pittsburgh corridor. It is not trying to be a big-name research school. Its strength is programs that feed directly into regional jobs in health care, engineering, manufacturing, teaching, and criminal justice, at a price that lets students graduate without heavy debt.
Nationally Known Program: Dana School of Music: Founded in 1869, Dana is one of the oldest music schools in the country, and in 2004 YSU became the first public university in Ohio to be named an All-Steinway School. Students can major in performance, music education, or audio and music production, and they record for Dana Records, a student-run label.
Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing: YSU’s engineering programs sit next to one of the country’s additive manufacturing hubs, and the state picked YSU to partner with America Makes on a Youngstown innovation hub for aerospace and defense.
Health Sciences and Nursing: The Bitonte College of Health and Human Services is one of YSU’s biggest draws, with nursing among the most popular majors on campus.
Pre-Med Through YSU-BaccMed: An enhanced pre-med track with potential early assurance to Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) or LECOM, geared toward primary care.
Criminal Justice and Forensic Science: Tracks in law enforcement, corrections, legal process, and loss prevention, plus a forensic science degree.
Business and Education: The Williamson College of Business Administration and YSU’s teacher education programs are steady, practical choices with strong regional employer ties.
Data Skills for Any Major: Through the YSU Data Mine, built with Purdue, students from any major can get real data analytics experience with corporate partners.
🔗 Official Youngstown State University Links
Use YSU’s official pages below to verify admissions details, scholarship rules, costs, and deadlines. Always rely on these pages for final award terms.
Youngstown State is one of the most honest price tags in the Midwest. The sticker is already low, out-of-state families pay almost the same as Ohio families, and the Penguin Tuition Promise means the number you see as a senior is the number you pay for four years. Merit is automatic and predictable. Honors is where the extra money is, and the housing awards are where smart families quietly save another few thousand a year.
What YSU will not give you is a lottery-ticket full ride. What it will give you is a clear path: file the FAFSA by December 1, get the admission and Honors applications in by February 15, fill out the Foundation form, and pick the housing award that pays the most. Do those four things, and a student with good grades can often walk out with more in the bank than debt.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Written by Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He built this site after walking his own daughter through the college money maze, and he keeps it free: no paywall, no lead generation, just plain-English guides for middle-income and first-generation families. More about Leo →
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