Incoming Freshmen Scholarships

Students whose completed admission applications were received by December 1^st are being reviewed and identified to ensure that, considering this record-breaking enrollment year, the University of Kentucky is offering as many academic scholarships as possible, within the confines of our general scholarship fund/budget.  While most applicants have received information about their academic scholarship offer, we are continuing to review applications to make additional offers, when fiscally possible. 

The University of Kentucky offers renewable academic, competitive and selective scholarship opportunities for incoming first-time freshmen. Completed admission application and all supporting documents, including high school transcript, must be received as soon as possible, but by no later than December 1, 2023 for scholarship consideration. Once admitted, eligible students are automatically considered for academic scholarships. Combined test scores (superscore) are not considered. For all scholarships listed, students may receive only one award. 

The University of Kentucky is committed to making scholarship opportunities available to students who qualify, whether they apply with or without test scores. The University of Kentucky is a national leader in using extensive data assessment beyond test scores to evaluate students for scholarship awarding, including heavily weighing a student’s unweighted high school GPA. All eligible students who apply by the Early Action deadline of December 1, 2023, regardless of applying with or without an ACT/SAT test score, will be considered for academic scholarships. For fullest consideration, we urge students to apply as soon as possible and prior to December 1, 2023. For more information regarding our test optional for admission policy, visit go.uky.edu/testoptional. 

*Housing stipend of $10,000 per year is available for Singletary Scholars living on campus in a UK residence hall during the first two years of enrollment only. 

**Applicants for the Kentucky Governor’s Scholar/School for the Arts/School for Entrepreneurs Presidential Scholarship must complete the competitive section of the admission application to have their application reviewed for this highly competitive scholarship as a limited number of scholarships will be offered. 

*Housing stipend of $10,000 per year is available for Singletary Scholars living on campus in a UK residence hall during the first two years of enrollment only. 

Academic Scholarships 

Students who meet the traditional or test optional minimum criteria, apply for admission and submit all supporting documents, including high school transcript, as soon as possible, but by no later than December 1, 2023, will be considered for academic scholarships. Once admitted, eligible students are automatically considered for academic scholarships. No additional application is required. 

Competitive Scholarships 

Students must meet the traditional or test optional minimum criteria, apply for admission, complete the competitive scholarship section of the admission application and submit all supporting documents, including high school transcript, as soon as possible but by no later than December 1, 2023, to have their application reviewed in this highly competitive program. A limited number of awards will be offered. Selected applicants may be invited to campus for interviews. Please note, these scholarships are highly competitive. The University of Kentucky received over 2,600 competitive scholarship applications for the 2023-24 incoming Freshmen class and awarded 50 Presidential scholarships and 25 Otis A. Singletary scholarships. 

Selective Scholarships 

Students must have completed the programs listed, meet the traditional or test optional minimum criteria, apply for admission and submit all supporting documents, including high school transcript, as soon as possible, but by no later than December 1, 2023. Once admitted, eligible students are automatically considered for the Kentucky Governor’s Scholar Provost Scholarship. No additional application is required. 

All scholarship offerings are subject to change each year.     

William C. Parker Belonging Scholarship 

The William C. Parker Scholarship Program (WCP) directly supports the UK Strategic Plan goal to bring together many people as one community with a broad range of lived experiences to create and sustain a community of inclusion, understanding and belonging. For more information, visit William C. Parker Belonging Scholarship.

College and Department Scholarships 

Several colleges and departments at UK administer their own scholarship programs. Students who have chosen an academic program are encouraged to contact their college/department regarding scholarship opportunities. Requirements vary. Some UK colleges are now utilizing ScholarshipUniverse for departmental scholarship applications, but please check with your respective college regarding their specific scholarship procedures and deadlines. Contact information and webpages for the various UK colleges can be found here.  

ScholarshipUniverse 

The University of Kentucky Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships is excited to offer ScholarshipUniverse as a resource for our students! 

ScholarshipUniverse (SU) is an online scholarship platform that matches students to relevant, vetted external scholarship opportunities, as well as internal scholarships offered by the university. Each external scholarship opportunity a student sees on SU has gone through an extensive vetting process to ensure the scholarship is offered through a reliable and authentic source. 

SU is available for currently enrolled UK students and admitted prospective students who have a linkblue account. Students can login to complete the student profile and search and apply for external and internal scholarship opportunities. The external scholarship opportunities are available through sources outside of the University of Kentucky. 

Some UK colleges are now utilizing ScholarshipUniverse for departmental scholarship applications, but please check with your respective college regarding their specific scholarship procedures and deadlines. Contact information and webpages for the various UK colleges can be found at www.uky.edu/financialaid/college-departmental.  

Institutional awards are not guaranteed. All students are considered based on timing of application, meeting requirements for admission, and doing so by established deadlines. Institutional aid programs are evaluated each year and are provided based on the availability of funds.