With the cost of a college education growing ever more expensive, you might feel like a degree is out of reach. However, Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) has come up with an alternative for some Central Ohio residents: The COTC Promise. With the COTC Promise, free community college tuition may be possible for you.

What Is the COTC Promise?

The COTC Promise is Central Ohio Technical College’s guarantee that certain eligible students can attend COTC tuition free. There’s no cap on how much aid you can receive over time, and you can take courses online or on any COTC campus.

If your FAFSA household income is below $100,000, and you’ve lived in Coshocton, Knox or Licking County for at least one year, COTC will make sure your bill for tuition, instructional and general fees is $0 through a combination of federal, state and institutional aid, as well as private scholarships. Some students may even be eligible for additional financial aid to cover books, living expenses and additional course fees.

Tuition includes instructional and general fees. Course fees, books and living expenses are not included. Other financial aid may be available to help cover expenses not included in the Promise programs.

Depending on your county of residence, your COTC Promise support might be partially funded by different sources:

• Coshocton County: Scholarships for Coshocton County students are funded by donations from the Coshocton Foundation’s Grace and Clarence Miller Scholarship endowment,
• Knox County: Knox County residents’ scholarships are funded by the Knox County Foundation and several private funding partners.
• Licking County: The Licking County COTC promise is new for summer 2026 and is funded by local community members’ contributions to the Newark Campus Development Fund (NCDF), a public charity dedicated to supporting COTC and Ohio State Newark.

Who’s Eligible for the COTC Promise?

In order to get free college tuition under the COTC Promise, you need to meet eligibility requirements:

• You must be a current resident of Licking, Coshocton or Knox County, and have lived in the county for at least one year.
• You must have an annual household income of $100,000 or less as reported on the most recent year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• You must not already have an associate degree or bachelor’s degree.
• You must be enrolled in at least one credit hour in a federal aid-eligible certificate or degree program at COTC.

In subsequent years and as a continuing student, you must also meet the following requirements to keep your COTC Promise funding:

• Maintaining a minimum 2.0 GPA
• Meeting the standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Maintaining all other financial aid eligibility requirements

What Are the Benefits of the COTC Promise?

If you’re eligible for the COTC Promise, there are many reasons to take advantage of it and enroll at COTC:

• Cost savings: COTC tuition for Ohio residents is $239 per credit, or $2,868 per semester for students taking between 12 and 18 credit hours (a full-time schedule). The average associate degree from COTC will cost approximately $13,440 in tuition. The COTC Promise brings these costs to zero. By starting your bachelor’s degree at COTC and transferring to a four-year school, you could save an average of nearly $20,000 for an in-state public school or up to $80,000 at a private university or college.
• Increased career prospects and earning potential: According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the median annual earnings for someone in the U.S. with an associate degree is 18% higher than someone with a high school diploma alone, while bachelor’s degree holders earn approximately 60% more annually. Additionally, COTC has partnerships with local communities and businesses near our campuses that give our students a very good chance to land a high-earning job right after graduation.
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities: COTC’s cost-sharing partnership with The Ohio State University on our Newark campus allows us to have access to cutting-edge technology and training equipment that most technical college students don’t usually get the opportunity to enjoy. You do not have to live in Newark or Licking County to take courses at our Newark campus and take advantage of these facilities.
• Easily balance school with work and life: You only need to take one credit hour each semester to maintain funding through the COTC promise. This lets you complete your degree or certificate program at your own pace alongside your job and other responsibilities. Additionally, many of our courses — and even entire programs — are offered online, helping you take advantage of COTC’s free tuition offer on your daily schedule.

Take Advantage of the COTC Promise

Interested in enrolling in a degree or certificate program under the COTC Promise? If you meet the eligibility requirements, the process couldn’t be easier. There’s no separate application process. Simply submit your FAFSA form before the priority filing date and apply for the COTC program of your choice.