What is it?
The Miami Access Initiative is a scholarship program for Ohio residents designed to help make Miami University accessible to all academically qualified students regardless of income.

"By combining our existing levels of support, the income from the Lois Klawon gift, matching funds from other generous donors, and the federal and state financial aid these students already receive, we are able to undertake this significant new initiative that we hope will encourage students from low-income families to see Miami as a real option for a high-quality college experience, and that more of them will enroll at Miami. We are therefore now able to take a significant step toward our goal of making Miami accessible to all academically qualified students regardless of income."
- Miami president David C. Hodge, August 18, 2006

How to apply
There is no separate application for the Miami Access Initiative. To be considered, students must either be admitted to the Oxford campus as a first-time freshman or be approved for relocation from either the Middletown or Hamilton campuses. Families must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov by our priority date of February 15. (Please note that the FAFSA is not available for completion until January 1.) For admission information and the benefits offered to a Miami Access Scholar, visit www.muohio.edu/access.

What is included?
The Miami Access Initiative is a guarantee that eligible students will receive scholarship and/or grant funds that meet or exceed the cost of tuition and academic fees at Miami University. Students who are eligible for other Miami scholarships or scholarships from other, non-Miami sources could receive more than this amount. The Summer Orientation fee will be waived for a MAI student and one family member, however this waiver does not apply if staying at Heritage Commons.

What is not included?
The costs for room, board, books, travel, and personal expenses are not included in the guarantee, but as mentioned above, may be covered by other funding sources. Also, students who are eligible for the Miami Access Initiative could still use federally guaranteed student loans, Federal-Work Study, and other private loans for these costs. Contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for additional information.

Who is eligible?
All Ohio residents entering the Miami University Oxford campus as first-time, full-time freshmen in the fall of 2009 will be considered for the Miami Access Initiative. Students must file the FAFSA by our priority deadline of February 15, be eligible for federal aid, and have a total family income equal to or less than $35,000. (Total family income includes the parent(s) with whom the student resides, the step-parent residing in the household, and the student. We will also consider interest and investment income where appropriate.)

In addition, dependent students relocating to Oxford from the Hamilton or Middletown campuses who enroll full-time on the Oxford campus in the fall of 2009 are also eligible for the Miami Access Initiative. (For information about relocating to the Oxford campus, please see your regional campus academic advisor.)

All students who are determined to be initially eligible will be required to submit financial documentation (including but not limited to tax forms, W-2's, and 1099's) to the Office of Student Financial Assistance to determine final eligibility. If the review of these forms indicates the presence of significant assets or other income, Miami University will reserve the right to alter or disqualify the student from the Miami Access Initiative.

To remain eligible for up to four years, students must maintain full-time enrollment for every semester, continue to file the FAFSA each year by our priority deadline, continue to have a total family income equal to or less than $35,000, maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, and maintain part-time employment on campus. In addition, the Miami scholarships may have a GPA requirement, which is outlined in the student's Financial Aid Award Notice.

Additional Questions?
Feel free to contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance at 513-529-8734 or financialaid@muohio.edu.