Akron Public Schools’ Innovation Generation Scholarship (IGS)

In a unique partnership, the Akron Public Schools and The University of Akron offer a scholarship opportunity to qualified APS seniors to earn a bachelor's degree.

Designed to yield Akron’s next generation of innovators, the scholarship recognizes and rewards the hard work of motivated high school graduates.

Our shared goal is to create and expand a diverse Akron talent pool with a scholarship program that is based on academic preparation, performance and service to the community.

In the next generation of innovators, we will develop the creative thinking, problem-solving and team-building skills essential for success in Ohio’s 21st century economy.

How does the scholarship program work?

Students enrolled in Akron Public Schools who apply for admission to The University of Akron are automatically considered for the scholarship. After the Akron Public Schools' Board of Education approves the scholarship candidates, their names are sent to the University.

The University will provide the district with the names of those who meet the academic requirements for the scholarship. The district will verify that the students who meet the requirements have attended APS for four consecutive years.

Recipients will be notified of qualification by their school counselor during the spring of their senior year and the scholarship will post to the student account by mid-summer and prior to the fall bill. 

How to apply

There is no scholarship application; however, applicants must apply for admission to the University.

Complete admissions materials include:

1. the online admissions application,
2. No application fee required.
3. high school transcript, including senior coursework in progress, and
4. ACT or SAT test scores.

Students must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA.

Related: UA admissions information

Who is academically qualified for IGS?

Students must meet the following criteria:

• 3.0 high school GPA and meet college-ready benchmarks on ACT (English: 18, Mathematics: 22, Reading: 22) or the SAT equivalent; or
• 3.5 high school GPA, minimum ACT or SAT test score not required.

Scholarship Amount and Renewability

The scholarship may cover tuition and up to $428.40 of the general fee per semester after all other grants and University-administered scholarships are applied. The scholarship is renewable upon maintaining a cumulative 3.0 GPA, which will be reviewed at the end of each spring semester.

Effective Spring 2016, IGS students who are in the 2.8 to 2.99 cumulative GPA range will be presumed to desire to continue to receive the scholarship upon their re-enrollment. The University, in its discretion, approves any such re-enrollment and participation in the IGS program.

The Innovation Generation Scholarship may be awarded up to eight, full-time semesters or through the receipt of a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first.

Full-time study is 12 or more credit hours per semester, but 16 credit hours per semesters is recommended to graduate in four years.

Other requirements

• Students must attend UA full-time.
• Students must pursue a bachelor's degree of their choice.
• Students must submit annually a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
• The tuition scholarship will be reduced by any grants or other scholarships the student receives that apply to tuition and general fee payments.
• The scholarship, Innovation Generation Scholarship (IGS), is a "last-in-line scholarship" meaning, IGS will cover remaining tuition and general service fee once all other University scholarships and external grants (e.g., Choose Ohio First, PELL, etc.) are applied to a student's tuition and general service fee. See examples and download a worksheet.
• The IGS does not cover facilities fee, career advantage fee, library fee, transportation fee, course fees, engineering infrastructure fees or any other mandatory fee assessed. IGS also does not cover residence or dining (i.e., room and board) costs.

Deadline

To be considered for the APS Innovation Generation Scholarship, students must be admitted to UA by May 1.

Administration and Management of IGS

• The amount of all scholarships awarded to the student, plus any financial aid and/or grants received may not exceed the total cost of tuition and the general service fee.
• Current University of Akron students are ineligible.
• GPA measurement: Consistent with the University's other scholarship programs, the University is measuring the IGS students' cumulative GPA results on an academic year basis at the conclusion of each spring semester.
• Ineligibility: IGS students who earn a cumulative GPA of 2.79 or below at the conclusion of any spring semester are automatically ineligible for the IGS program.

SEE ALSO

• Akron Public Schools' scholarships page
• Scholarships at The University of Akron