If you’re a Cincinnati-area parent looking at private school for your child, the Ohio EdChoice Expansion Scholarship can cover most of the cost — and the application process is simpler than you think. Here’s exactly how it works, step by step.
What Is the EdChoice Expansion Scholarship?
The EdChoice Expansion Scholarship is a state-funded program that helps Ohio families pay for private school tuition. It’s available to students in grades K–12 based on household income. For the 2025–2026 school year, the scholarship covers up to $6,166 per student in grades K–8.
Here’s the key: this scholarship is now universally available to Ohio families. If your household income is at or below 450% of the Federal Poverty Level ($144,675 for a family of four), your child qualifies for the full amount. Even families above that threshold may qualify for a prorated scholarship.
Step 1: Choose a Participating Private School
Before you apply for the scholarship, you need to enroll your child at a participating private school. Not every private school in Ohio accepts EdChoice — but Central Baptist Academy does.
Contact the school’s admissions office, tour the campus, and complete the enrollment process. At CBA, we walk every family through this personally. Schedule a tour here.
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
You’ll need three things:
- Your child’s birth certificate (a copy is fine)
- Proof of current address — a utility bill, lease, or bank statement dated within the last 90 days
- The EdChoice Scholarship Request Form — your school’s office will provide this
If you’re a first-time applicant, you’ll also need to complete income verification. The school will guide you through this process.
Step 3: Submit Through Your School
Here’s what surprises most parents: you don’t submit the application yourself. Your private school submits it on your behalf through the state’s secure online system. Just bring your documents to the school office, and they handle the rest.
At Central Baptist Academy, our office staff manages the entire submission process. We’ve done this for hundreds of families — we know exactly what the state needs and how to avoid delays.
Step 4: Wait for Approval (About 14 Days)
The Ohio Department of Education reviews applications within 14 days. If anything is missing or needs correction, the school is notified directly. Once approved, the state mails a Scholarship Acceptance Letter to your home.
Step 5: Sign and Return the Acceptance Letter
When you receive the letter, check the acceptance box, sign it, and return it to the school’s business office. That’s it — you’re done.
What Does This Mean for Your Family’s Wallet?
At Central Baptist Academy, full tuition for grades K–5 is $6,466 per year. The EdChoice Expansion Scholarship covers $6,166 of that. Your out-of-pocket cost: as little as $300 per year — roughly $30 per month.
For grades 6–8, tuition is $6,566, making your annual cost just $400, or about $40 per month.
Most families use a 10-month payment plan, bringing the monthly cost to approximately $30–$40 per month for a private, Christ-centered education with small class sizes, a safe campus, and free bus transportation from CPS, Finneytown, Mt. Healthy, and Winton Woods school districts.
Key Deadlines
The application window for the 2025–2026 school year is open now through June 30, 2026. Don’t wait — applying early ensures your child’s spot is secured and the scholarship is processed before the school year begins.
Ready to Get Started?
The hardest part isn’t the application — it’s making the decision. If you’ve been thinking about private school but assumed you couldn’t afford it, the EdChoice Scholarship changes everything.
Contact Central Baptist Academy today to schedule a tour and start the enrollment process. We’ll walk you through every step of the scholarship application — no guesswork, no stress.