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Student Caffé has many staff members, past and present, who grew up in Kentucky. In an effort to help out students who followed in our high school footsteps, we wanted to create a list of scholarships that are open to students who live in Kentucky. Many of these programs do require that you attend a college or university in Kentucky, so if you’re planning on staying close to home, there are plenty of options for you!
Scholarships for all Kentucky residents:
Award Amount: Up to $1,900
Application Deadline: ASAP after October 1
This grant is open to Kentucky residents who can demonstrate financial need and who attend or are planning to attend an eligible public or private Kentucky school. Click here for a list of participating institutions. You must enroll at least half-time in a program that lasts at least two years to maintain eligibility. There is no dedicated application, but you must fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible after it is released (each year on October 1) to prove your financial need and “apply” for the grant. The sooner you fill out the FAFSA, the better; grants are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship
Award Amount: Varies
Minimum GPA Required: 2.50
This scholarship is automatically given to Kentucky residents who graduate from a Kentucky high school and attend a college or university in Kentucky. There is no application; money will automatically be awarded to you based on your high school GPA, your ACT scores, and, in some cases, your AP or IB scores. The higher your high school GPA each year, the more money you will be awarded annually for college (a 2.50 GPA will get you $125 annually, while a 4.0 GPA will get you $500 annually). Likewise, if you score at least a 15 on the ACT, you’re guaranteed an additional $36 for college each year. If you score above a 28, you’ll earn yourself $500 annually. Finally, if you qualified for the free or reduced lunch program for at least one year during high school, you may earn a bonus for sufficient scores on AP (minimum score of 3) or IB (minimum score of 5) tests. This bonus ranges from $200 to $300 for each year of college. If you have any questions, talk to the financial aid office at your college. For a list of participating institutions, click here.
Award Amount: Up to $3,000
Application Deadline: ASAP after October 1
This grant is open to Kentucky residents who can demonstrate financial need and who attend or are planning to attend a private school in Kentucky. Programs may be either two years or four years in length. Click here for a list of participating institutions. Like with the College Access Program Grant, there is no dedicated application, but you must fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible after it is released (each year on October 1) to prove your financial need and “apply” for the grant. The sooner you fill out the FAFSA, the better; grant awards are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship Program
Award Amount: Varies
If you are a Kentucky resident who has not received an associate’s degree, you may be eligible for tuition assistance for up to four semesters. High school graduates and high school students can participate in the program; current high school students must work with their high school counselor to receive dual credit. To apply, you must be enrolled in or accepted to an approved institution in Kentucky to pursue an associate’s degree in an approved career pathway. High school graduates must submit the FAFSA. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Scholarships for Kentucky residents pursuing specific degrees:
Coal County Scholarship Program for Pharmacy Students
Award Amount: Varies
If you are pursuing a pharmacy degree at an accredited school in Kentucky and you are a resident of a coal-producing county in Kentucky, you are eligible to apply for this program. Coal-producing counties are generally found in eastern Kentucky and northwestern Kentucky. After receiving your credential, you will be required to work as a pharmacist in one of Kentucky’s coal-producing counties for one or more years, depending on how many years you receive the scholarship. If you fail to complete your degree or your service requirement, you must repay the full amount of the award.
Early Childhood Development Scholarship
Award Amount: Up to $1,800
Kentucky residents who are pursuing an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or other credential in early childhood development at one of these Kentucky schools are eligible for up to $1,800 per year. Students must be enrolled in no more than nine credit hours each semester and should be working no less than 20 hours weekly at an approved early childhood or preschool program. Students will be required to fulfill a service commitment in exchange for the award.
Nursing Incentive Scholarship Fund
Award Amount: $3,000
Application Deadline: June 1, 2019
If you are a Kentucky resident who is planning to attend or is attending an undergraduate or graduate nursing program, you may qualify for up to $3,000 annually. While you are not required to demonstrate financial need to apply, preference will be given to students who do. Following the completion of your credential, you will be required to fulfill a service commitment: one year of full-time work as a nurse in Kentucky for each year you received the scholarship. Should you fail to complete your degree or your service commitment, you will be required to repay the scholarship award.
Award Amount: Up to $2,500 per semester
Application Deadline: May 1, 2019
If you are a Kentucky resident who can demonstrate financial need and has either been admitted to a teaching program to pursue your teaching certification or are a certified teacher who is returning to school to earn additional teaching-related credentials, you may apply for this program. You will be required to complete a service commitment after receiving your certification or credential: one semester of teaching in a Kentucky Board of Education-certified school for each semester that you received the award. If you are a high school teacher teaching at the college level or if you are serving in a critical needs field, your service commitment is halved.
Other scholarships for Kentucky residents:
Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation Scholarships
Award Amount: $500
Application Deadline: January 15 and July 15
If you are a Kentucky resident with hemophilia (or a similar disease) and receive treatment in Kentucky or have an immediate family member who suffers from hemophilia (or a similar disease) and receives treatment in Kentucky, you may be eligible for one of four $500 scholarships. You are not required to be attending a college or university in Kentucky. Contact the Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation for more information.
Student Technology Leadership Program Scholarships
Award Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: March 1, 2019
Letter of Recommendation: Yes
If you are a senior in high school and participated in the Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP), you may be eligible for one of four STLP scholarships. The application is simple and consists mainly of identifying information; proof of participation in STLP; and descriptions of your accomplishments, skills, and projects.
While these are some of the major scholarships available to Kentucky residents, there are many, many others that are more specialized. There may be scholarships for students who live in a particular county, attend a particular high school, or participate in a particular extracurricular. While an internet search may help you find some of these smaller scholarships, consider also talking to your guidance counselor, your employer, or your teachers. They’ll have plenty of ideas for you to boost your scholarship earnings. Good luck!
