Akron Expands Free College Program
Credit: Henryk Sadura / Tetra images / Getty Images- The University of Akron offers a last-dollar grant that pays for tuition and fees for eligible local students.
- Akron recently expanded the adjusted family income eligibility requirement for the program from $50,000 to $85,000.
- Students need to be from Summit, Stark, Medina, Portage, Cuyahoga, or Wayne counties.
- Students also need to fill out the FAFSA and accept all financial aid to qualify.
The University of Akron is expanding income eligibility for its free college program for local students.
The Making Akron Possible (MAP) Grant covers full tuition and fees for qualifying students, and school officials recently announced expanded eligibility for that program.
Students previously needed a total family adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less to qualify for the grant. Akron officials recently increased that eligibility requirement to $85,000 or less.
“We are confident that few, if any, other programs in the state match this level of assistance, making The University of Akron the best choice for local students looking to further their education affordably,” Steve McKellips, Akron vice provost for enrollment management, said in a press release.
In addition to meeting that family income requirement, other eligibility requirements include:
- Residing in Summit, Stark, Medina, Portage, Cuyahoga, or Wayne counties
- Being enrolled full time each semester while pursuing an undergraduate degree
New students, transfer students, and continuing students who first received the grant during the 2024-2025 school year who meet the grant’s criteria and fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form will automatically receive the MAP Grant.
“Our goal is to make higher education accessible and affordable for every student in our community,” McKellips said. “By expanding the MAP Grant to cover families with a higher income, we’re helping more students than ever achieve their educational aspirations.”
MAP is a “last-dollar” grant, meaning it’s applied after other scholarships and federal and state grants have been applied.
MAP isn’t the only financial aid program Akron provides. The university provides more than $260 million in financial aid to students every year, according to the press release, and 94% of students receive some form of aid to lower tuition costs.
“We believe that by expanding our financial aid programs, we’re not just supporting students, but also investing in the future of our region,” McKellips said in the release.
Akron is one of several Ohio institutions that offer free tuition programs to students. Case Western Reserve University and Columbus State Community College have similar regional-based tuition assistance programs.
Antioch College has a last-dollar scholarship program for Pell Grant-eligible students that isn’t tied to a specific region.