The Ruth M Hughes Scholarship Trust concentrates almost all of its giving on undergraduate scholarship support, primarily for Ohio-based colleges and their students. The trust makes repeated, sizable awards to a single private university while also funding scholarship programs at a public state university, indicating a focus on enabling student access to higher education within the region.
Concentrated, high-dollar support with few grants: repeat multi-year grants to a primary grantee (Muskingum University) plus occasional awards to other Ohio higher-education institutions focused exclusively on scholarships.
The Ruth M Hughes Scholarship Trust’s recent giving centers on undergraduate scholarships, with repeated awards to the same Ohio institutions over multiple years. Muskingum University received the largest recent grant at $60,000 in 2023, followed by $46,800 in 2024 and $44,625 in 2025, showing a sustained commitment rather than a one-time award. Ohio University is another recurring recipient, with scholarship support appearing in several years and at multiple campus locations, including Athens and Zanesville. That pattern suggests a trust built around direct student financial aid, especially for postsecondary students in Ohio. Its grants reach a mix of private colleges, public universities, and regional campuses, including institutions in New Concord, Athens, Cincinnati, Kent, Marietta, Newark, and Steubenville. The trust also funds Ohio State University campuses and other regional schools such as Zane State College and Miami University. The overall picture is one of steady scholarship funding distributed across a broad set of Ohio colleges, while still concentrating a large share of support on a small number of institutions.
Undergraduate scholarships are the trust’s clearest priority. Muskingum University in New Concord received $60,000 in 2023 for scholarships, then $46,800 in 2024 and $44,625 in 2025, indicating ongoing support for students there. Ohio University also appears repeatedly, with $34,125 in 2025 and $27,000 in 2023 for scholarships. Public university support is another visible thread. Ohio State University at Steubenville received $32,000 in 2023, $22,400 in 2024, and $21,000 in 2025, while Ohio University Zanesville received $23,000 in 2023, $20,600 in 2024, and $10,500 in 2025. The trust also supported Kent State University, the University of Cincinnati, Marietta College, and Capital University with scholarship awards, showing a statewide pattern across private and public postsecondary institutions. Regional access appears to matter as well, with grants to Zane State College, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Akron.
Typical awards are modest and clustered near the middle of the distribution: p25 is $2,625, median grant size is $3,000, and p75 is $6,200. The recent grants list also shows a smaller number of much larger scholarship allocations, including awards above $40,000. The trust operates as an individual-focused scholarship fund rather than a program-investment vehicle, and the data shows repeated support to the same institutions across 2023, 2024, and 2025, especially Muskingum University, Ohio University, and Ohio State University at Steubenville.
$373K
$6.1M
$991K
$470K
Most grants fall between $3K and $6K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$6K
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Notable grantees: Muskingum University, Ohio University
Giving is strongly centered in Ohio: 63% of grants go to recipients in the headquarters state, and Ohio is also the top state by grant count. Named recipient locations include New Concord, Athens, Cincinnati, Kent, Marietta, Newark, Steubenville, and Zanesville. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 139 grants to U.S. recipients.
It funds undergraduate scholarship support. The recent grants list is made up entirely of scholarships, with repeated awards to Ohio colleges and universities such as Muskingum University, Ohio University, Ohio State University at Steubenville, and Kent State University.
The distribution is centered on relatively small awards: p25 is $2,625, median grant size is $3,000, and p75 is $6,200. Some scholarship awards are much larger, but most grants sit near the lower end of that range.
Yes. Muskingum University received $60,000 in 2023, $46,800 in 2024, and $44,625 in 2025. Ohio University, Ohio State University at Steubenville, Ohio University Zanesville, Kent State University, and Marietta College also appear in multiple years.
Ohio is the top state by grant count, and 63% of grants go to recipients in Ohio. Recent recipients include institutions in New Concord, Athens, Cincinnati, Kent, Marietta, Newark, Steubenville, and Zanesville.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OHIO UNIVERSITY | ATHENS, OH | $54,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY | NEW CONCORD, OH | $52,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | STEUBENVILLE, OH | $35,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI | COLUMBUS, OH | $27,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OHIO UNIVERSITY ZANESVILLE | ZANESVILLE, OH | $25,750 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $14,750 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| PENSACOLA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE | PENSACOLA, MI | $14,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MIAMI UNIVERSITY | OXFORD, OH | $12,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE UNIVERSITY | MT VERNON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON | DAYTON, OH | $9,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF FINDLAY | FINDLAY, OH | $7,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | MARION, IN | $7,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY | TIFFIN, OH | $7,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY | CLEVELAND, OH | $7,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $7,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY | BOWLING GREEN, OH | $7,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY | WESTERVILLE, OH | $7,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $7,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE | EVANSVILLE, IN | $7,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ZANE STATE COLLEGE | ZANESVILLE, OH | $6,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE | BUCKHANNON, WV | $6,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF AKRON | AKRON, OH | $3,750 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MARSHALL UNIVERSITY | HUNTINGTON, WV | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MARIETTA COLLEGE | MARIETTA, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY | ADA, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY | SALT LAKE CTY, UT | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CAPITAL UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY | BEREA, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| POINT PARK UNIVERSITY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY | TEMPE, AZ | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF RIO GRANDE | RIO GRANDE, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| KENT STATE UNIVERSITY | KENT, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | LEXINGTON, KY | $1,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ROSE HULMAN INSTITUTE OF TECH | TERRE HAUTE, OH | $1,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $1,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MALONE UNIVERSITY | CANTON, OH | $500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SAINT MARYS COLLEGE | NOTRE DAME, IN | $500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CENTRAL OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE | NEWARK, OH | $500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY | NEW CONCORD, OH | $44,625 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OHIO UNIVERSITY | ATHENS, OH | $34,125 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | STEUBENVILLE, OH | $21,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $19,375 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| KENT STATE UNIVERSITY | KENT, OH | $18,375 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MARIETTA COLLEGE | MARIETTA, OH | $10,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OHIO UNIVERSITY ZANESVILLE | COLUMBUS, OH | $10,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ZANE STATE COLLEGE | ZANESVILLE, OH | $10,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF AKRON | COLUMBUS, OH | $7,875 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MIAMI UNIVERSITY | OXFORD, OH | $7,875 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$35,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
$27,250SCHOLARSHIPS
OHIO UNIVERSITY ZANESVILLE
$25,750SCHOLARSHIPS
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
$14,750SCHOLARSHIPS
PENSACOLA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
$14,500SCHOLARSHIPS
MIAMI UNIVERSITY
$12,250SCHOLARSHIPS
MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF FINDLAY
$7,500SCHOLARSHIPS
HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY
$7,500SCHOLARSHIPS
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
$7,500SCHOLARSHIPS
FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY
$7,250SCHOLARSHIPS
BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
$7,250SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$7,250SCHOLARSHIPS
ZANE STATE COLLEGE
$6,250SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
$3,750SCHOLARSHIPS
MARSHALL UNIVERSITY
$2,500SCHOLARSHIPS
MARIETTA COLLEGE
$2,500SCHOLARSHIPS
BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY
$2,500SCHOLARSHIPS
POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
$2,500SCHOLARSHIPS
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
$2,500SCHOLARSHIPS
KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
$2,500SCHOLARSHIPS
OHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY
$2,500SCHOLARSHIPS
YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY
$2,500SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
$1,250SCHOLARSHIPS
ROSE HULMAN INSTITUTE OF TECH
$1,250SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$1,250SCHOLARSHIPS
CENTRAL OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$500SCHOLARSHIPS
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$21,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
$19,375SCHOLARSHIPS
KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
$18,375SCHOLARSHIPS
MARIETTA COLLEGE
$10,500SCHOLARSHIPS
OHIO UNIVERSITY ZANESVILLE
$10,500SCHOLARSHIPS
ZANE STATE COLLEGE
$10,500SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
$7,875SCHOLARSHIPS
MIAMI UNIVERSITY
$7,875SCHOLARSHIPS