• Federally funded to students with exceptional need
• For award amounts, please visit https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell#award-amounts
• Must be an undergraduate student without a previous bachelor’s degree
• Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Must have a complete financial aid file
• May be eligible if attending less than half-time (i.e. 5 hours or less)
• Eligibility is limited to 12 full-time semesters

• Federally funded to students with exceptional need on a first come, first served basis
• Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Award ranges from $250 per academic year
• Must be an undergraduate student without a previous bachelor’s degree
• Priority is given to students also receiving the Pell Grant

What is it?
The Ohio Department of Higher Education administers the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) program, which provides grant money to Ohio residents who demonstrate the highest levels of financial need (as determined by the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that should be completed) who are enrolled at Ohio public university main campuses (not regional campuses or community colleges), Ohio private, non-profit colleges or universities, and Ohio private, for-profit institutions. 

Eligibility & Awards

For eligibility and award amounts, please visit https://highered.ohio.gov/students/pay-for-college/ohio-grants-scholarships/ocog

How do I apply?

Students apply for OCOG benefits by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Is there a deadline? The application deadline is October 1 of each year.

If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school’s financial aid offer. A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest.

If you decide to take out a loan, make sure you understand who is making the loan and the terms and conditions of the loan. Student loans can come from the federal government or from private sources such as a bank or financial institution. Loans made by the federal government, called federal student loans, usually offer borrowers lower interest rates and have more flexible repayment options than private loans.

In compliance with the requirements of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (H. R. 4137) as signed into law on August 14, 2008, the following is the Code of Conduct regarding student loans for the Office of Financial Aid at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.

Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science:

• Does not require students to use a particular lender or in any way limit the choice of lenders for students.
• Does not recommend external lenders to students or their parents, and does not maintain a list of lenders that are preferred over other lenders (we do provide a list of lenders as possible suggestions – which in no way should be recognized as preferring one over another).
• Processes loan applications through any lender a student or parent chooses.
• Does not solicit or accept anything of value from any lender in exchange for any advantage sought by the lender to make educational loans to students enrolled at, or admitted to, CCMS.
• Prohibits employees of the financial aid office, or any employee who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans, from taking from any lender any gift worth more than nominal value.
• Prohibits employees of the financial aid office, or any employee who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans, from entering into any type of consulting arrangement or other contracts to provide to a lender services relating to educational loans.
• Prohibits employees of the financial aid office, or any employee who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans, who serve on an advisory board (or commission or group) relating to educational loans established by a lender or group of lenders, from receiving anything of value from the lender or group of lenders in connection with serving on such advisory board (or commission or group).
• Prohibits external lenders’ employees, representatives, or agents from providing staffing services to the financial aid office.
• Prohibits external lenders’ employees, representatives, or agents from identifying themselves to students of CCMS or their parents as employees, representatives or agents of the financial aid office.
• Does not assign for any borrower, through award packaging or other methods, a loan to a particular lender, and does not refuse to certify or delay certification of any loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.

Self-Certification Form

CCMS is required to provide the Self-Certification form, and the information needed to complete the form, to any enrolled or admitted applicant (or to the parent applicant of an enrolled or admitted student) upon the applicant’s request for a private education loan Self-Certification form. You can download a copy of the form here.

Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans are for eligible students to help cover the cost of higher education. Federal student loans are funded by the federal government.

How do I apply for a Federal Direct Loan?

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Complete Entrance Loan Counseling. This is required per federal regulations.
• ALL first-time Federal Direct Stafford Loan borrowers must complete Stafford Entrance Loan Counseling before being awarded a Federal Direct Stafford Loan. An electronic confirmation will be transmitted to the Financial Aid Office within 24 hours.
• Complete your Master Promissory Note. This will only need to be completed once while you attend CCMS.

After you apply for aid, you may be offered either a subsidized or unsubsidized loan, or a combination of both. The primary difference between the two is the interest rate and when the interest begins to accrue.

• Subsidized Loans are awarded on the basis of financial need. You will not be charged any interest while the loan is in deferment status, such as while you are enrolled, as the federal government subsidizes or pays the interest.
• Unsubsidized Loans charge interest from the time the money is first disbursed until it is paid in full. The interest is capitalized, meaning that you pay interest on any interest that has already accrued. One way to minimize how much interest accrues is to pay the interest as it accumulates.

Only undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need are eligible for Subsidized Loans. Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students. Federal regulations are used to determine the amounts each student may borrow by considering the cost of attendance and other financial aid.

To learn more about Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, visit the Department of Education’s Direct Loan comparison website.

CCMS participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loan). The Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is a loan that parents can obtain to help pay the cost of education for their dependent undergraduate children. Eligible parents borrow directly from the U. S. Department of Education and can borrow up to their child’s cost of attendance minus other financial aid received.

How do I apply for a Parent PLUS direct loan?

• Sign In
• Click on “Request a PLUS loan.”
• Under “What You Need” – click on “Parent PLUS.”
  • Complete “Student/Parent Personal Information” -> continue
  • Select Award Year
  • Complete “Student Parent & Loan Info”
  • Review Application
  • Credit Check and Submit
• Once all steps are completed, make sure to print out a copy of your Master Promissory Note for your records.
• An electronic confirmation will be transmitted to the Financial Aid Office within 48 hours.

For more information please visit the Federal Student Aid Website.

Private alternative loans are a last-resort option after other sources have been exhausted, including Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans.  Students whose programs are not yet approved for Federal Title IV can use private alternative loans as well.  Unlike Federal or state aid, a student would need to find a lender and meet all of the requirements to receive the loan, then CCMS will receive notice to certify the loan.  CCMS receives the funds for this type of loan to apply to any remaining balance, and if there is a credit balance remaining when the student's charges are paid, the student will receive a credit balance refund to help offset your living expenses and other miscellaneous expenses. Although CCMS cannot recommend one private loan lender over another, you can find information at the links below.  You can also review other lenders online, keeping in mind that each lender makes its own rules when it comes to approval, interest rates, repayment, etc., and some lenders are better for students than others. 

Private alternative loan information and example lender information:   Finaid.org/loans

Additional private alternative loan information:   ELM Resources

On May 8, 2023, the CCMS family lost a dear member. Beth Williams lost her courageous battle with breast cancer.  Beth was an alumna of the University of Cincinnati (1996) and CCMS (1998), completing her Bachelor of Mortuary Science degree at CCMS.  She was pursuing a Masters of Thanatology degree at the time of her death.  Beth had been an Ohio Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer since 1999 and was certified as a Master Funeral Director/Embalmer and Funeral Celebrant.  She also held an Ohio Crematory Operator Permit.

Beth joined the CCMS team in 2013 after many years as a practicing Funeral Director/Embalmer.  She served as the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Chief of Staff.

Beth is survived by her husband Russell (Rusty) and her two children, Lainey and Grey.

In 2023, CCMS established a scholarship in Beth's name to honor her legacy.

Donate to the Elizabeth A. Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund

Established in 2024 in memory of CCMS supporter Harold Vroman, father of 2012 OFDA president and former CCMS Trustee Mark Merz, is awarded to a student in their first or second semester at CCMS who has earned or transferred to CCMS with a grade point average of 2.8 to 3.5 and demonstrated financial need. Applicants must submit a short essay (no more than 500 words) expressing the leadership qualities that they intend to apply to the funeral service profession through their career.

Established to honor 2016 CCMS Alumna Rachael Anderson whose life was abruptly taken just thirteen months after graduating from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Through this educational scholarship we celebrate and remember her charismatic, energetic, funny, and compassionate personality.

Rachael graduated from CCMS on December 17, 2016, earning a Bachelor of Mortuary Science degree.

The educational scholarship is established through the partnership of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and Ohio Funeral Directors Association to honor Rachael’s passion for life and passion for becoming a funeral service professional. CCMS and OFDA are working to honor the Anderson family’s vision in memorializing their daughter.

Please consider donating to the Rachael Anderson Memorial Scholarship Fund.  

Rachael joined the #CCMSfamily August 27, 2015 and was known for her kind, humorous nature. . She was a bright, beautiful light, and she lovingly accepted everyone and was a compassionate caregiver and great advocate and champion for the death care profession. She quickly befriended her peers and successfully saw her dreams come to fruition as she completed her education in December 2016 and set off to central Ohio to pursue an apprenticeship. Rachael was employed as an apprentice with Shaw-Davis Funeral Home, and she was nearing the end of her apprenticeship at the time her life was taken from her.

To honor Rachael's zest for life and passion for her chosen profession, CCMS established The Rachael Anderson Memorial Scholarship. Her family, along with funeral service professionals, peers, and friends have come together to raise more than $10,000 to date in memory of Rachael to fund the scholarship. 

Over $3,000 has been awarded to date in Rachael's honor. The remainder of scholarship funds will be awarded twice per year, to one recipient in each cohort during semester 3, and in consultation with Rachael's family. Awards will be presented to CCMS students who display the same passion for funeral service as Rachael. 

“Rachael had many passions throughout her life. First and foremost, her career!  She had a gift of compassion! She enjoyed dancing and socializing with family and friends. She loved Children! She loved her Life! Rachael will always be remembered for her uniqueness, hard work, loving kindness, joy and infectious laughter. She had the ability to make a lasting impression on everyone she came in contact with, and she could light up a room with her smile,” says Rachael’s family.

The death care profession lost an icon in funeral service on May 23rd with the passing of Todd Van Beck. Beloved father of Thomas. Son of the late Tony and Norma (nee Fecan). Brother of Scott (Sarah) Van Beck; uncle of Wesley, Helen, Sam and Neil Van Beck.  Todd was a person who had a half-century love affair with both funeral and cemetery service. He willingly admitted that he was no “expert!” and also quickly admitted that there was nothing about this work and life that he did not enjoy, and in which he did not have intense interest. Todd had said: “I have never done a day’s work in my life; it has all been fun and interesting.” 

CCMS has established a scholarship in Todd's name to honor his legacy.

Donate to the Todd Van Beck Memorial Scholarship Fund

Todd was uniquely gifted and took great pride in providing reverent care for the dead and compassionate care for the living. Todd earned his Professional Diploma in Mortuary Science in 1973 from the New England Institute of Funeral Service Arts and Sciences (MA), his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Psychology from Mount Mercy University (IA), and his Master of Arts in Religion from Athenaeum of Ohio (Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary).  In 2005, he was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, (Houston, TX).   Todd held several certifications and licensures, including the Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (C.F.S.P.), Certified Funeral Executive (C.F.E.) and licensure in several states.

Prior to his employment as Program Director at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (CCMS), Todd served as Faculty/Director of Continuing Education at John A. Gupton College (TN); General Manager of Forest Hill Funeral Homes & Memorial Parks (TN); Director of Family Funeral Care and Public Relations at A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home (GA); President and CEO of the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service (TX); Director of Education for the Loewen Group, Inc. (OH), and Director of Education for Trust 100.  His academic career began at CCMS in 1982.

Todd was an active writer and prominent international speaker in the profession. He authored 8 books and over 400 articles on death care topics.  An avid historian and academician, Mr. Van Beck grew up in Southwestern Iowa and declared at the young age of 5 that he would become a funeral director one day. Todd operated funeral homes, cemeteries and mortuary colleges during his career. Todd selflessly served the death care profession in many arenas across the nation and internationally, which satisfied his desire to see the world. An Abraham Lincoln scholar, he was an expert in the deaths of United States presidents and authored a presentation about each of the funerals of the deceased American presidents. He was thrilled and humbled to return to CCMS and his cherished Queen City where he planned to continue his mission until retirement. Todd served on the boards of the Cincinnati Fire Museum, the William Howard Taft National Birthplace Site, and the Funeral Service Foundation of the National Funeral Director Association.

The following organizations offer scholarships for students in mortuary science programs.

• 100 Black Women of Funeral Service
• American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE)
• Funeral Service Foundation
• National Funeral Directors Association
• Newcomer Funeral Service Group
• Ohio Funeral Directors Association
• Order of the Golden Rule
• Selected Independent Funeral Homes – Second Career Scholarship
• Service Corporation International (SCI)
• Spring Grove CCMS Mortuary Science Scholarship Program
• State Funeral Director Associations Scholarships

Financial Aid Information & Student Award Guide

In the Student Award Guide, you will find the terms and conditions of your statement at CCMS and the financial aid requirements. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid with questions.

Your annual financial aid notice, which is awarded based on full-time attendance, may include one or more of the loans, grants, or FWS programs described in our Student Award Guide (disbursement of aid will not occur before classes begin and enrollment is verified). To learn more about our student awards or to get more financial aid information, please visit the link below.

Award Guide

National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)

HEOA Sec. 489 amended HEA Sec. 485B(d)(4) (20 U.S.C. 1092b)

Institutions that enter into an agreement with a potential student, student, or parent of a student regarding a Title IV, HEA loan are required to inform the student or parent that the loan will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system.

Consent to use Federal Financial Aid Funds

Notice and Authorizations 34 CFR 668.165(a)

Before a school can perform any of the following activities, a school must obtain authorization from a student (or parent borrower):

• Use FSA funds to pay for allowable charges other than tuition, fees and room and board if the student contracts with the school.
• Hold an FSA credit balance.
• Apply FSA funds to prior-year charges other than for tuition, fees, room, and board not to exceed $200.

A school may not require or coerce the student or parent to provide the authorization and must clearly explain to the student or parent how to cancel or modify the authorization. The student or parent may cancel or modify the authorization at any time.

A cancellation or modification is not retroactive—it takes effect on the date that the school receives it from the student or parent. If a student or parent cancels an authorization to use FSA program funds to pay for allowable charges other than tuition, fees and room and board (if the student contracts with the school), or prior-year charges other than for tuition, fees, room, and board, the school may use FSA funds to pay any authorized charges incurred by the student before the notice was received by the school.

If a student or parent cancels an authorization to hold excess funds, the funds must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than 14 days after the school receives the notice. Unless otherwise specified, a student or parent may authorize a school to carry out the activities for which authorization is provided for the entire period that the student is enrolled at the school. A student or parent may cancel or modify an authorization at any time. It is understood by the student that the authorization will be in effect unless the student indicates otherwise.