Merit Scholarship Terms and Conditions
- To assist as many students as possible, EKU does not make multiple institutional scholarship awards. If you have already qualified for an academic award through a different category of eligibility (merit scholarships, EKU staff scholarships, tuition discounts, etc.), you will receive the award with the greater monetary value. All academic-based scholarships and outside agency scholarships are required to be reported as part of your financial aid package. You may not exceed the cost of attendance as determined by Big E Central. If your total financial aid package exceeds the cost of attendance, the university reserves the right to adjust/reduce the amount of your aid or your scholarship accordingly.
- If you receive a tuition waiver, your merit scholarship will be canceled.
- If you change your program to a 100% online program at any time in your academic career, your scholarship will be cancelled for the remainder of your eligibility.
- If you decide to leave EKU for any reason, please note your scholarship will be considered declined and it will cancelled for the remainder of semesters of eligibility.
- If you are awarded a new freshmen merit and EKU receives a transcript with >24 credit hours earned at another school, your scholarship will be canceled.
- To maintain eligibility for the scholarship, you are required to be a full time student enrolled in 12 or more semester hours each term and maintain a minimum EKU cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Merit Scholarship Additional Policies
- Scholarship offers will be made until funds are exhausted.
- Awards are based unweighted high school GPA and composite ACT scores. EKU does not accept ACT superscores.
- Merit scholarships are only offered to students being admitted to the Fall semester. Exceptions include early high school graduates who are enrolling in the Spring term following their high school graduation.
- Transfer students who have earned less than 24 transfer hours may be considered for new freshman merit scholarships. These will be awarded following the transfer merit admit deadlines:
- June 15th for Fall Semester (acceptance deadline June 22nd)
- November 15th for Spring semester (acceptance deadline November 22nd)
- Students need to apply for admission to be considered for listed scholarships. For more information, visit the EKU Admissions website. Qualified students will receive their official scholarship award letter and acceptance form after being admitted to the university.
- Students may not have previously received a Bachelor’s degree.
- Merit Scholarships are awarded for 8 continuous semesters. Transfer Scholarships are awarded for 6 continuous semesters.
- If a student withdraws from their courses, EKU reserves the right to reduce scholarships to prevent a refund to the student.
- For out-of-state students, if his/her residency changes to Kentucky (in-state status) at any point in the future, this may change his/her scholarship eligibility or award amount.
- Students must remain in good Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- If a student is participating in the Academic Common Market program, he/she will NOT be eligible for merit scholarships since he/she is already receiving a tuition waiver which reduces the tuition cost to the in-state level.
| Scholarship Name | Eligibility Requirements | Annual Award | Semester Award | Renewal EKU GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merit Tier 1 | 3.8 – 4.0 GPA and ACT 28+ | In-State Tuition** | In-State Tuition** | 3.0 |
| Merit Tier 2 | 3.8 – 4.0 GPA | $6,000 | $3,000 | 3.0 |
| Merit Tier 3 | 3.3 – 3.79 GPA | $4,000 | $2,000 |
2.8 (0-59 SCH) 3.0 (60+ SCH) |
| Merit Tier 4 | 3.0 – 3.29 GPA | $3,000 | $1,500 |
2.8 (0-59 SCH) 3.0 (60+ SCH) |
| Madison County Promise |
2.5-2.9 GPA (Must be from Madison County) | $1,000 | $500 |
2.8 (0-59 SCH) 3.0 (60+ SCH) |
| Scholarship Name | Eligibility Requirements | Annual Award | Semester Award | Renewal EKU GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merit Tier 1 | 3.8 – 4.0 GPA and ACT 28+ | In-State Tuition** | In-State Tuition** | 3.2 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Merit Tier 2 | 3.8 – 4.0 GPA | $6,000 | $3,000 | 3.2 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Merit Tier 3 | 3.3 – 3.79 GPA | $4,000 | $2,000 | 3.0 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Merit Tier 4 | 3.0 – 3.29 GPA | $3,000 | $1,500 | 3.0 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Madison County Promise |
2.5-2.9 GPA (Must be from Madison County) | $1,000 | $500 | 3.0 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Scholarship Name | Eligibility Requirements | Annual Award | Semester Award | Renewal EKU GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merit Tier 1 | 3.8 – 4.0 GPA and ACT 28+ | $8,000 | $4,000 | 3.2 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Merit Tier 2 | 3.8 – 4.0 GPA and ACT 24+ | $5,000 | $2,500 | 3.2 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Merit Tier 3 | 3.4+ GPA | $1,500 | $750 | 3.0 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Merit Tier 4 | 3.0 – 3.39 GPA | $1,000 | $500 | 3.0 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Madison County Promise |
2.5-2.9 GPA (Must be from Madison County) | $1,000 | $500 | 3.0 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
Out-of-State Discount and Scholar Awards GPA Requirements
For the Scholar I – V Awards students must enroll full-time (at least 12 credit hours) and maintain a 3.0.
For the Out-of-State Discount students must enroll full-time (at least 12 credit hours) and maintain a 2.8.
For the Scholar I – V Awards students must enroll full-time (at least 12 credit hours), maintain a 3.0 EKU GPA, and have 24 earned EKU credit hours
For the Out-of-State Discount students must enroll full-time (at least 12 credit hours) and maintain a 3.2 EKU GPA, and have 24 earned EKU credit hours
| Scholarship Name | Eligibility Requirements | Annual Award | Semester Award | Renewal EKU GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merit Tier 1 | 3.8 – 4.0 GPA and ACT 28+ | $8,000 | $4,000 | 3.2 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Merit Tier 2 | 3.8 – 4.0 GPA and ACT 24+ | $5,000 | $2,500 | 3.2 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Merit Tier 3 | 3.4+ GPA | $1,500 | $750 | 3.0 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Merit Tier 4 | 3.0 – 3.39 GPA | $1,000 | $500 | 3.0 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
| Madison County Promise |
2.5-2.9 GPA (Must be from Madison County) | $1,000 | $500 | 3.0 GPA, 24 earned EKU credit hours |
Important Dates & Deadlines
- March 1
- Last day for students to be admitted to be considered for Merit Scholarships, Out of State Discount, and Scholar awards
- Rodney Gross Diversity Scholarship Deadline
- Trailblazer First Generation Scholarship Application Deadline
- Foundation Scholarship Application deadline
- June 1
- Last day to accept Merit Scholarships & Out of State Discount, Rodney Gross Scholarship, and New Horizon Scholarship
- Last day to be admitted to be considered for Madison County Promise
- June 30
- Deadline for EKU to have received high school transcripts and ACT scores for merit upgrades
Transfer Scholarships Transcript Deadlines
- April 15
Summer Session - June 15
Fall Semester - November 15
Spring Semester
Out of State Spring transfers
- November 22
Out of State Discount acceptance deadline
Transfers with less than 24 transfer hours earned will be considered for new Freshman Scholarships
- June 15
Deadline to be admitted for Fall - June 22
Deadline to accept for Fall - November 15
Deadline to be admitted for Spring - November 22
Deadline to accept for Spring