Undergraduates from any U.S. state entering Eastern Kentucky University are eligible for the Out-of-State Discount Program. Get rewarded for your high school academic achievement! In addition to EKU’s discounted out-of-state tuition rate of $11,120 per year*, merit scholarships make EKU even more affordable. Based on a 4.0 high school GPA and standardized test scores, annual awards range from $1,000 to $7,000 for first-time freshmen coming to EKU from out of state.
Students must be admitted by the deadline and accept their awards to remain eligible. Awards are renewable for up to 8 terms, given they maintain full-time, continuous enrollment, and meet the GPA requirement.
Out of state discounts for new first time freshmen are only awarded starting in the Fall term.
Merit Scholarships for Out-of-State Students
| Scholarship Name | Eligibility Requirements | Annual Award | Renewal GPA | ||
| High School GPA | ACT Composite Score | SAT Combined Score | |||
| Scholar V | 4.0 | none required | none required | $500 | 3.0 |
| Scholar IV | 4.0 | 29-30 | 1350-1410 | $1,000 | 3.0 |
| Scholar III | 4.0 | 31-32 | 1420-1480 | $3,000 | 3.0 |
| Scholar II | 4.0 | 33 | 1490-1520 | $5,000 | 3.0 |
| Scholar I | 4.0 | 34 or higher | 1530-1600 | $7,000 | 3.0 |
| OOS Discount | none required | none required | none required | $9,810** |
2.8 (23-24 starts) 3.2 (24-25 starts & 25-26 starts) |
*Students who have already earned a baccalaureate degree are not eligible for the Out-of-State Discount. International Sponsored students do not qualify for the Out of State Discount.
**This is an estimated amount to bring the Out of State Tuition rate to $11,120 for 2024-2025.
Other Scholarship Opportunities
The scholarships listed below may require separate applications and may have different deadlines. Follow the links for more information.