Knox County Foundation (KCF) announced its intention to extend funding of Knox Promise—a three-year trial program launched in 2022 that guarantees free college at Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) to qualifying residents of Knox County. KCF has approved funding for the program into the 2025-2026 academic year and is seeking donors interested in growing the program to impact more Knox County residents.
“Knox Promise is sometimes called a ‘last dollars scholarship’ because it funds the gap between what’s been covered by a student’s scholarships and grants and whatever remains of their tuition,” Jeff Scott, executive director of KCF, said. “This program is a perfect reflection of KCF’s priorities—community helping community. When local funding helps students earn college degrees, and in turn they get better paying jobs, it’s a huge benefit to the community.”
The Knox Promise has made college education a reality for 164 Knox County students since the program launched in 2022. In its first three years, Knox Promise awarded $79,003.85 in “last dollars scholarships.”
How Knox Promise Works:
Under the program, all tuition will be covered for students annually reporting a household income of $60,000 or less on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Knox Promise is open to new, current or returning COTC students who do not already hold a bachelor’s or associate degree.
Eligible students must be current Knox County residents who have lived in the county for at least one year.
Recipients must be enrolled in an aid-eligible COTC degree or certificate program at any COTC campus or online. The program is available to both full and part-time students studying on campus or remotely.
“More people are eligible for scholarships and grants than they realize,” David Brillhart, chief financial officer for COTC, said. “We tried to make the program easy and to get a very simple message out there: Free College. We wanted people who don’t believe they can afford college to think, ‘Hey, I could do that!’ This wonderful program makes college accessible to anyone who qualifies.”
Knox County Foundation partners with community donors to fund the Knox Promise program.
“We’re always interested in talking to community-minded people who want to be part of the good work that’s happening in Knox County,” Scott said. “In order to sustain this program, we will need additional funding partners. Our hope is that others will want to be part of this effort.”
He added that interested individuals can contact him directly.
For more information on the KCF’s partnership with donors, collaboration with nonprofit organizations or strategic initiatives, please visit knoxcf.org or call 740-392-3270. Knox County Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Knox County through charitable giving.
