EdChoice Scholarships for Cincinnati Home Buyers
EdChoice Scholarships for Cincinnati Home Buyers
June 18, 2026
The quick version: Ohio's EdChoice program helps families pay private school tuition, and for the 2025-2026 school year nearly every Ohio family qualifies for some amount.
- Awards are up to $6,166 per student for grades K-8 and up to $8,408 per student for grades 9-12.
- It is based on household income, not your school district, so it is available statewide.
- It is per student, so a family with more than one child in private school may qualify for an award for each eligible child.
- It is a State of Ohio program. Cristo Homes does not run it, fund it, or decide who qualifies.
If that is enough to interest you, the details are below. For exact numbers for your household, use the state's tools linked at the end.
What EdChoice is
EdChoice is a scholarship program run by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. It pays toward tuition at participating private schools. The award goes to a student, not to a household or a home, and it can only be used at a participating chartered private school. You enroll your child, and the private school files the scholarship application through the state's system.
There are two tracks. EdChoice Expansion is income-based and open to students across Ohio regardless of where you live, with award amounts that scale to household income. Traditional EdChoice is tied to specific public schools the state designates each year and is not income-restricted. For most families shopping for a new home, the Expansion track is the one that applies, because it does not depend on your address.
How much families can receive
For the 2025-2026 school year, the maximum award is up to $6,166 per student for grades K through 8 and up to $8,408 per student for grades 9 through 12. Families at or below 450 percent of the federal poverty level receive the maximum. For a family of four, that income line is roughly $144,675.
Above that income level, the award is reduced on a sliding scale. Even at higher incomes, families still qualify for a minimum amount, roughly $616 for grades K through 8 and roughly $840 for grades 9 through 12, per student per year. Because awards are per student, families with more than one child in private school may receive an award for each eligible child. Your actual amount depends on household size and income.
The award covers tuition only. Registration, materials, and similar fees may still apply, and if a school's tuition is higher than the award, families above the lowest income tier pay the difference. Families at or below 200 percent of the poverty level do not pay tuition beyond the scholarship amount.
The 2025-2026 application window is open through June 30, 2026. The private school, not the family, submits the application through the state system.
What this means if you are buying a new home
Because the income-based EdChoice Expansion is available statewide, your home's school district does not limit your access to it. You can choose a Cristo community for the home, the location, and the value, and still keep private school on the table through the state program. For families who prioritize private education, that flexibility comes with you to any of our Ohio communities across Greater Cincinnati and Dayton. EdChoice is an Ohio program and does not apply to homes in Kentucky.
A note on the program's status
EdChoice is operational and funded today. The Ohio legislature approved funding for both the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. The program is also being challenged in court. In June 2025, a Franklin County judge ruled EdChoice unconstitutional under the Ohio Constitution, and the program was allowed to keep operating while the state appeals. The appeal was argued before Ohio's Tenth District Court of Appeals in May 2026, with no ruling yet and a possible path to the Ohio Supreme Court afterward. Because the program's future could change, always verify current status and amounts with the state before relying on EdChoice in your planning.
Important
This is general information, not financial, legal, or education advice. Eligibility, participating schools, application requirements, deadlines, and final award amounts are determined by the State of Ohio and participating schools. Cristo Homes does not determine eligibility or guarantee scholarship approval. Verify all details directly with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce before making education or home-purchase decisions.
Where to confirm the details
Have questions about a specific Cristo community or your new home search? Get in touch with our team and we will help you find the right fit.
