Current Students

Retention Grant awards are grants based on need that will be used to help pay down outstanding balances so students can register for classes. They are conditional upon registering for and remaining in classes for the following semester. They cannot be used to pay down balances without registering for courses. Students who are graduating in the current term are not eligible for Retention Grants. Because Retention Scholarship funds are limited, not all students who apply can receive an award.

Recipients:
Degree-seeking students that entered EKU in either the summer or fall of the current year as first-time freshmen and are returning the fall of next year who have at least a 2.0 EKU grade point average with a grade of C or better in all coursework.

Learn more about Alumni Legacy Scholarships and Tuition.

Learn more about the Dr. Rodney Gross Diversity Scholarship and register.

Learn more about Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police Scholarships.

Learn more about the James A. Wells, Sr. Veterans Scholarships.

The O’Donnell Scholarship provides an opportunity for persons aged 65 and older to become students at Eastern Kentucky University by enrolling in any courses listed available via myEKU.

Acceptance is based upon available space and may require the consent of the instructor or pre-requisites. O’Donnell Scholars may audit classes (with no exams, papers or other assignments required), take classes for credit but not work toward a degree, or take classes for credit and be a degree candidate. When O’Donnell Scholars are non-degree candidates, there is no requirement regarding previous educational attainment to audit a course or take a course for credit. However, to work toward a degree, the O’Donnell Scholar must meet the same admissions criteria as any other university student. There is no limit on the number of semesters a person may enroll.

O’Donnell Scholars are responsible for the cost of any required materials, parking permits and applicable income taxes. Tuition and fees are paid through funds authorized by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Federal Direct Student Loan Program guidelines require that the O’Donnell Scholarship be considered “financial aid” and be included in a student’s total financial aid award. The amount of the tuition and fees is included when calculating the total dollar amount of financial aid to which a student is entitled. The tuition is considered taxable income when classes are not taken toward a degree (audited or non-degree credit). Continuing education courses are excluded from the O’Donnell Scholarship Program because of the special provisions under which they are administered.

The admission application deadlines are as follows: August 1 for the fall semester, December 1 for the spring semester, April 15 for the first summer session and May 15 for the second summer session.

In order to qualify, you must be 65 a month prior to the beginning of the term in which you plan to enroll.

Note that after you apply for Admissions and are admitted, you are flagged as an O’Donnell Scholar. Then you are ready to register for classes and the scholarship will be on your account automatically by the end of the first week of classes.

Current undergraduate & Graduate students may qualify for EKU Army ROTC scholarship and non-scholarship options. We offer 2, 2.5 and 3-year ROTC scholarships at EKU’s Army ROTC program. Find out more about Campus Based Scholarships. Schedule an interview with the Recruiting Operations Officer (Mr. Eric Sheaks) to discuss potential scholarship opportunities. If you wish to schedule an appointment with our Professor of Military Science as part of the process, please contact Mr. Eric Sheaks at (859) 622-1215 or eric.sheaks@eku.edu or Claire Jennings at (859) 622-1205 or claire.jennings@eku.edu.