Some students at Hamilton High School, Butler Tech and Stephen T. Badin Catholic High School will now be able to count on free tuition for 2-year or 4-year degrees at Miami Hamilton.
Eligibility for the free tuition program Miami Regionals Hamilton Promise, a collaboration between the Hamilton Community Foundation, Miami University Regionals and the City of Hamilton, is limited to Pell-Grant eligible students.
To be eligible, students also must have attended one of the schools, all in Hamilton, for four years and have been a resident of Hamilton during all four years of high school. Students must have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.5+. Also, they must apply for admission to Miami Regionals and complete the FAFSA by April 1, 2024.
Those who meet these qualifications will not have to pay tuition at Miami Hamilton, said Jacob Stone-Welch, director of donor services for Hamilton Community Foundation. He said the promise begins this fall.
“High school students who are graduating this year would be able to apply for the scholarship for the fall semester 2024,” Stone-Welch said.
According to Federal Student Aid, the amount Pell-Grant eligible students receive depends on the Expected Family Contribution or the Student Aid Index, cost of attendance, status as a full-time or part-time student and whether they plan to attend school for a full academic year or less.
Stone-Welch said they don’t have a firm number yet, but they expect around 50-100 students will take advantage of this program each year.
The Hamilton Community Foundation is contributing $663,000 over five years to support the program.
Admission counselor for Miami Regionals Office of Admissions, Trevor House, said he is excited for the students.
“I think this is a great opportunity for students going to Hamilton High School or Badin High School,” House said. “Both of those schools are in my territory, so it’s great being able to talk to those students about the potential to maybe go to school for free if they meet the criteria.”
Stone-Welch said this promise is important because it gives most students the opportunity to obtain their college degree, and it also helps them grow as individuals.
“We’re honored to be a part of this program,” Stone-Welch said. “Educational attainment is a leading factor in the success of any individual, but whenever you translate that across many individuals it also impacts our whole community.”
