JFSA College Financial Aid
Scholarship Sponsored by Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland
About the program
For more than a century, JFSA’s College Financial Aid Program has supported students in pursuing higher education regardless of their financial background. The program is designed to reduce reliance on loans and to help lessen post-graduation student debt.
Types of aid and award amounts
- Awards are made competitively to applicants who meet the stated requirements. Some scholarships may be renewable; grants are awarded based on demonstrated need; in limited situations loans may also be offered.
- Awards vary from $800 up to $12,500, depending on each scholarship’s specific criteria.
- Depending on the scholarship’s terms, funds may be paid directly to the student (for tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, etc.) or sent straight to the college to cover designated costs.
Application process and timeline
- Applicants complete a single application form — you do not apply to individual scholarships. JFSA staff together with advisory committee members review all submissions and allocate awards.
- Deadline for the 2026–2027 academic year application is April 1, 2026. Applications are reviewed in June; award notifications are mailed in July/August, and funds are disbursed each August for the fall term.
Eligibility requirements
To be considered, applicants must meet all of the following:
- Residency: Live in (or pay taxes in, be claimed as a dependent on taxes by a relative who lives in, or be registered to vote in) one of these Ohio counties: Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage, Geauga, Medina, Lorain, or Lake.
- Income: Household gross combined parental/guardian income is approximately $225,000 or less. (For applicants to the Irving I. Stone Scholarship, the threshold is approximately $120,000.)
- Institution: Enrolled or planning to enroll at an accredited four-year U.S. college or university as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Note: fully online institutions are not eligible for aid under this program at this time.
- Enrollment status: Full-time enrollment is required — at least 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduates, or at least 9 credit hours per semester for graduate students.
- Jewish identity: Applicants must be Jewish (high school seniors, college undergraduates, or graduate students). Eligibility includes having at least one Jewish birth parent or having completed a recognized conversion through an established Jewish denomination.
- Academic standing: Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
If you meet these criteria and are interested in applying, complete the JFSA application by April 1, 2026.