On Feb. 27, 2026, Central Ohio Technical College’s President, John M. Berry, PhD, and Newark Campus Development Fund’s Executive Director, Jennifer Roberts, announced a promise to transform the lives of more students by making free college a reality for eligible Licking County residents during a press conference at the John Gilbert Reese Center.
The COTC Promise Program for Licking County is made possible through the extraordinary generosity of community members who have supported the college through the Newark Campus Development Fund since 1983 by endowing scholarship funds.
The Licking County Promise will be available beginning this summer semester, which starts May 18. The program is open to new and current students who do not already hold an associate or bachelor’s degree and who are enrolled at any of COTC’s four campus locations or online. To be eligible, students must have lived in Licking County for at least one year, report an annual household income of $100,000 or less on the FAFSA, and be enrolled in at least one credit hour.
There is no lifetime dollar limit for the Promise Program so students can receive free tuition for every semester they attend COTC, as long as they continue to meet the program requirements. Even better, there is no special application to complete! Students are automatically considered when they enroll at COTC, complete the FAFSA each year, and submit all required financial aid documentation, making the path to a tuition free education simple and accessible.
Jennifer Roberts commented, “We’re so grateful to all the donors who have invested their resources in scholarships at NCDF. This extraordinary opportunity would not be possible without them. It will help students who previously perceived college to be out of reach set new goals and understand that they now have a clear pathway to a degree. It will bring peace of mind to families who, on their own, don’t have the resources to help their children reach their educational dreams.”
COTC and NCDF are beyond thrilled to continue their commitment to changing students’ lives. For more information, visit go.cotc.edu/promise.
