Financial-aid cuts lock out Ohio students

Changes to need-based aid close doors for students at two-year colleges

Ohio has slashed aid for college students by a third over the past 10 years. As a result, it now invests less in need-based aid per full-time undergraduate than any Midwestern state and ranks 36^th nationally, according to a new report by Policy Matters Ohio.

Ohio is one of only seven states that have reduced need-based aid over the past decade, and one of only four that cut total grant aid awarded. In addition to deep cuts, in 2009 the state changed how it awards aid from the Ohio College Opportunity Grant, eliminating assistance for students at two-year public institutions.

“The students hit hardest attend community colleges and branch campuses,” said Hannah Halbert, workforce researcher at Policy Matters. “These schools are critical workforce training partners