5 Best Kentucky Scholarships
Updated November 8, 2022 · 2 Min Read
Discover Scholarships in Kentucky
Earning scholarships for Kentucky can provide extra greenbacks for affording college in the "Bluegrass State." Located in the Upland South as America's 26th most populous state, Kentucky is inhabited by over 4.42 million people. College students may be drawn by Kentucky's heated basketball rivalries, world-famous horse racing, spicy fried chicken, and unparalleled landmarks like Mammoth Cave National Park. If so, they'll have 24 public colleges, 29 private colleges, and many online college programs in Kentucky to choose from. High-ranking options include the University of Kentucky, Murray State University, Western Kentucky University, Berea College, and Morehead State University. The U.S. News even honored the University of Louisville as the 90th best public school nationally. Wrangle up some free tuition money with the following 5 Kentucky scholarships to steer clear of mounting loan debt.
Kentucky has achieved one of the United States' best high school graduation rates at 87.5 percent. Rising college tuition can discourage graduates in rural Appalachia from pursuing higher education though. On average, studying in Kentucky costs $5,442 in-state and $17,561 out-of-state each year. Some schools are upping the ante further too. For example, tuition and fees at Bellarmine University are now $40,350 annually. When you find gaps in your financial aid package, gallop toward these 15 best scholarships for Kentucky to inexpensively reach your degree's finish line.
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Sponsored by Toyota, Women Leading Kentucky is a Lexington nonprofit founded in 2000 to support visionary female business professionals prosper. Scholarships for $1,000 to $1,500 apiece are given to help educate tomorrow’s industry leaders. One high school senior and one college undergraduate are chosen annually. Interested ladies should apply before February 13th by sending an unofficial transcript and 300-word essay in Word format.
Eligibility:
- Attend a Kentucky college or university this upcoming Fall
- Maintain full-time enrollment with 12+ semester hours
- Display leadership skills in campus/community activities
- Present a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
Wolfe County Schools has established two scholarships for STEM higher education: the Collier Family Memorial Scholarship and Mercy International Scholarship. Each fund offers up to $3,000 for study in science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines. Priority is given to undergraduates enrolling at the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, or Murray State University. Applications are due on April 11th with a transcript and official ACT scores.
Eligibility:
- Be graduating seniors at Wolfe County High School
- Intend to enroll full-time at accredited Kentucky colleges
- Chose STEM careers, such as geology, physics, computer science, or statistics
- Demonstrate academic excellence and commitment
Located in Lexington, the Blue Grass Community Foundation serves Eastern Kentucky with 18 college funding opportunities, including the Stephen L. Keller Scholarship. Valued at $2,000, this program selects three undergraduates hailing from Pike, Martin, Floyd, Letcher, Knott, Perry, Johnson, Greenup, Knox, and surrounding counties. Online applications must be submitted by March 15th with a brief essay on current business/entrepreneurial opportunities.
Eligibility:
- Matriculate full-time at four-year Kentucky universities
- Declare majors in business administration, including accounting, finance, marketing, etc.
- Achieve an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Demonstrate unmet financial need for tuition and fees
The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) endows the Coal County College Completion Scholarship to provide up to $2,522 for public and $7,457 for private, nonprofit universities. It’s intended for those residing in rural, coal-producing counties, including Henderson, Webster, Muhlenberg, Pulaski, Pike, Magoffin, and more. Applications become available on January 1st, and funds are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Eligibility:
- Be United States citizens and permanent Kentucky residents
- Have earned at least 60 credits in higher education
- Pursue their first bachelor’s degree at least half-time
- Demonstrate financial need without being in loan default
For six years, the Board of Directors of the Kentucky School Boards Association has hosted the First Degree College Scholarship Program to provide two $2,500 awards. One male and one female incoming freshman who’ll be the first in their immediate family to attend college are selected annually. Students must be nominated by high school guidance counselors before November 15th for consideration. Recipients are honored at the Annual KSBA Conference luncheon.
Eligibility:
- Be college-bound Kentucky high school seniors
- Plan to attend a two- or four-year college in the United States
- Have obtained a minimum ACT reading score of 20