As Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) welcomes its Class of 2030, students are beginning the academic year with new scholarships designed to make college education more affordable.
For Fall 2026, EKU increased merit awards and launched the Promise Award, which provides at least $1,000 in financial support to every in-state, on-campus, full-time freshman, making EKU the only university in Kentucky to offer a scholarship to every Kentucky freshman. EKU offered some form of financial aid to 96% of freshmen. EKU’s freshman class comes from 110 Kentucky counties, 34 states and 11 countries.
“Coming from a rural community and being a first-generation college graduate, I understand the importance of having access to an education that feels within reach,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “Our commitment to affordability is about creating those opportunities for more students, and I’m proud of the many ways EKU continues to remove barriers and support students on their path to a degree.”
Scholarship amounts are based on high school GPA and optional test scores, allowing students and families to easily understand the award they qualify for as they make their college decision.
EKU welcomes nearly half of its student body as first-generation college students. More than 80% of EKU students receive financial aid, and the university awarded $31 million in institutional aid in 2025-26.
Brinley Taylor, a junior risk management and insurance major from Richmond, Kentucky, said she chose EKU because pursuing an affordable option for higher education was crucial for her.
“With the merit scholarship and other financial support, going to school at EKU was a no-brainer,” said Taylor. “All of these scholarships through the state of Kentucky and Eastern have made it possible for me to get my degree without any debt.”
Among the new affordability initiatives this fall, EKU also reduced tuition rates for graduate programs in education, business, criminal justice and public health.
EKU’s in-state tuition remains below average for public four-year institutions. EKU is first among Kentucky’s public regional universities in Washington Monthly’s Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars and is consistently recognized among its Best Bang for the Buck Colleges.
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