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Merit Scholarships

Merit Scholarships

EKU’s Scholarships Put Students First

Clear. Accessible. Affordable. EKU’s scholarships are built for you to succeed.

Every Student. Every Time.


Eastern Kentucky University’s merit scholarships ensure financial aid dollars support new first-time freshmen in the greatest way – all new in-state, first-time freshmen admitted to EKU are eligible for a scholarship award! No other comprehensive regional university in the state makes the same promise.

As the Commonwealth’s School of Opportunity, EKU is dedicated to serving Kentucky families first. Your success is what makes Kentucky great and we’re investing in you!

It’s all part of our ongoing commitment to accessible, high-quality education making sure that we continue to be one of the most affordable public universities in Kentucky. See exactly what you qualify for with our new scholarship levels.


Eastern Experience Scholarships


Scholarship
GPA
ACT/SAT

Award Amount/Year

Regent’s Award

3.8+

28+ ACT or 1310+ SAT

$9,000

President’s Award

3.8 – 4.0

None required

$7,000

One Eastern Award

3.4 – 3.79

None required

$5,000

Excellence Award

3.0 – 3.39

None required

$3,000

Promise Award

2.0 – 2.99

None required

$1,000

Disclaimer: GPA is unweighted. GSP with 28 or higher ACT or 1310 or higher SAT receive the Regent’s Award regardless of GPA. EKU Honors and GSP receive the President’s Award regardless of GPA. GSE, GSA and Rogers scholars receive One Eastern Award regardless of GPA. These merit scholarship awards are for in-state, on-campus, first time freshman only.


BookSmart: Affordable Textbooks for Every Student


As a college student, you have to have textbooks, but you don’t have to pay full price. EKU BookSmart offers discounted textbooks and a delivery method that couldn’t be easier. Textbooks and course materials are provided at only $26 per credit hour. That’s about $780 per year, a significant discount compared to the national average of $1,250 per year for textbooks.

This predictable fee keeps costs transparent and maximizes our commitment to affordability, accessibility and student success.


Why It Matters


  • Clear, up-front scholarship pathways
  • Predictable college costs
  • Sustainable financial support

Important Dates


First-Time Freshmen


  • December 1
  • Application opens for Foundation Scholarships
  • March 1
  • Merit scholarship and admission consideration deadline for Foundation Scholarships
  • June 1
  • Last day to accept merit scholarships for the academic year
  • June 30
    Merit upgrade deadline for newly submitted high school transcripts and ACT/SAT scores for the academic year

First-Time Transfer Students


  • May 1
    Transfer scholarship admission and transcript submission deadline for summer semester
  • August 1
    Transfer scholarship admission and transcript submission deadline for upgrades for fall semester
  • December 1
    Application opens for Foundation Scholarships
  • January 1
    Transfer scholarship admission and transcript submission deadline for spring semester

EKU Upcoming Events


Calendars
Venues
Days of the Week
Time of Day
List
Grid
Plain
Thu
15

Koehn Voice Studio Recital

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Fri
16

Stress Management: Feeling Stressed? Overwhelmed?

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