Commercial Truck Driver (CDL) Student Aid Program
Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE)
Covers CDL training costs at participating Ohio schools: half as a grant, half as a loan forgiven if you drive in Ohio for a year.
- How much
- up to the cost of the CDL program's tuition and related expenses: 50% grant + 50% forgivable loan
- Who qualifies
- Ohio resident; enrolled in an approved CDL training program at a participating school; pass a drug test before training; 3 or fewer moving violations in the past two years; no OVI conviction in the past 12 months; registered for Selective Service if applicable; commit to live and work in Ohio for at least one year after completing the program.
- For trade school students, adults going back to school
- For commercial truck driving (CDL) students
- When to apply
- Apply any time No student deadline; awarded by participating schools while their annual allocation lasts
- How to apply
- Before enrolling, meet with a financial aid advisor at a participating CDL school to review eligibility and terms
- The school requests funds for you, and you e-sign the ODHE promissory note emailed to you
- What you'll need
- See how to apply
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (highered.ohio.gov) and page 2
The details
Awards are 50% grant and 50% loan, together up to the cost of tuition and related expenses for the CDL program (no refunds to the student). The loan half is forgiven if you get your CDL, start work in Ohio using that license type within 60 days of finishing, and stay employed 12 months. Students sign an ODHE promissory note for the loan half. Participating schools are selected through a competitive ODHE application (up to $125,000 per school per year; ~$2.955M total). Students withdrawing before 25% of the program aren't eligible; later withdrawals follow the school's refund schedule and the loan is still owed.
More money from Ohio
- Ohio Work Ready Grant (OWRG)up to $6,000/yr (technician-aligned programs) or up to $3,000/yr (other in-demand programs), full-time
- Governor's Merit Scholarship (GMS)up to $5,000 per year, renewable up to four years
- Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG)up to $4,000/yr (public main campuses), $5,000/yr (private nonprofit), $2,000/yr (for-profit) in 2026-27
- Second Chance Grant$3,000 one-time
- Choose Ohio First Scholarshipvaries by college and year (2021-22 average: $4,324 at four-year schools, $2,226 at two-year schools)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.