🔍 Discover 🏆 LinkedIn Top 50 📚 Saved Schools 🗺️ Trip Planner ❓ Help Log In
← Back to Eastern Kentucky University

💰 Eastern Kentucky University Merit Scholarships

Total Scholarships
18
Automatic
15
In-State Awards
$1,000-$9,000/yr
Typical Requirements for Automatic Merit
2.0 GPA / 24 ACT

Eastern Kentucky University awards merit scholarships automatically on GPA and test scores, with no separate application. Awards run $1,000-$9,000/yr for in-state students. Eligibility starts at 2.0 GPA / 24 ACT.

Official Scholarship Information
View complete details on Eastern Kentucky University's website
Visit School Website →

Automatic merit scholarships at Eastern Kentucky University — no separate application

15 awards granted on your admission application, based on GPA and test scores.

Colonel
Award
$3,000/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.5+
If you meet the following criteria, transfer scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed! Colonel Plus | 3.75+ | $4,000 Colonel | 3.50-3.74 | $3,000 Maroon Plus | 3.25-3.49 | $2,000 Maroon | 3.0-3.24 | $1,000
Eligibility: Students must have earned a minimum of 24 college credits to be eligible. Students must maintain an EKU GPA of 3.0+, be enrolled full-time, and earn a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester to retain award.
How to apply: ["minimum 24 college credits", "full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours)", "maintain EKU GPA thresholds for renewal"]
📋 Renewal: 3.0 GPA, 12 credits Source ↗
Colonel Plus
Award
$4,000/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.8+
If you meet the following criteria, transfer scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed! Colonel Plus | 3.75+ | $4,000 Colonel | 3.50-3.74 | $3,000 Maroon Plus | 3.25-3.49 | $2,000 Maroon | 3.0-3.24 | $1,000
Eligibility: Students must have earned a minimum of 24 college credits to be eligible. Students must maintain an EKU GPA of 3.0+, be enrolled full-time, and earn a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester to retain award.
How to apply: ["minimum 24 college credits", "full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours)", "maintain EKU GPA thresholds for renewal"]
📋 Renewal: 3.0 GPA, 12 credits Source ↗
Excellence Award
Award
$3,000/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.0+
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
Eligibility: Eastern Kentucky University’s Fall 2026 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! If you meet the following criteria, merit scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed!
How to apply: ["no application needed", "FAFSA required", "full-time enrollment (12+ semester hours)", "admit by merit deadlines (see Important Dates)"]
Source ↗
Maroon
Award
$1,000/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.0+
If you meet the following criteria, transfer scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed! Colonel Plus | 3.75+ | $4,000 Colonel | 3.50-3.74 | $3,000 Maroon Plus | 3.25-3.49 | $2,000 Maroon | 3.0-3.24 | $1,000
Eligibility: Students must have earned a minimum of 24 college credits to be eligible. Students must maintain an EKU GPA of 3.0+, be enrolled full-time, and earn a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester to retain award.
How to apply: ["minimum 24 college credits", "full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours)", "maintain EKU GPA thresholds for renewal"]
📋 Renewal: 3.0 GPA, 12 credits Source ↗
Maroon Plus
Award
$2,000/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.2+
If you meet the following criteria, transfer scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed! Colonel Plus | 3.75+ | $4,000 Colonel | 3.50-3.74 | $3,000 Maroon Plus | 3.25-3.49 | $2,000 Maroon | 3.0-3.24 | $1,000
Eligibility: Students must have earned a minimum of 24 college credits to be eligible. Students must maintain an EKU GPA of 3.0+, be enrolled full-time, and earn a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester to retain award.
How to apply: ["minimum 24 college credits", "full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours)", "maintain EKU GPA thresholds for renewal"]
📋 Renewal: 3.0 GPA, 12 credits Source ↗
Merit Tier 1 (25-26 Starts)
Award
$8,000/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.8+ • ACT 28+
Merit Tier 1 | 3.8-4.0 | 28+ | $8,000 Merit Tier 2 | 3.8-4.0 | 24-27 | $5,000 Merit Tier 3 | 3.4+ | None Needed | $1,500 Merit Tier 4 | 3.0-3.39 | None Needed | $1,000
Eligibility: Awards are based unweighted high school GPA and composite ACT scores. EKU does not accept ACT superscores.
How to apply: ["no application needed", "FAFSA required", "full-time enrollment (12+ semester hours)"]
Source ↗
Merit Tier 2 (25-26 Starts)
Award
$5,000/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.8+ • ACT 24+
Merit Tier 1 | 3.8-4.0 | 28+ | $8,000 Merit Tier 2 | 3.8-4.0 | 24-27 | $5,000 Merit Tier 3 | 3.4+ | None Needed | $1,500 Merit Tier 4 | 3.0-3.39 | None Needed | $1,000
Eligibility: Awards are based unweighted high school GPA and composite ACT scores. EKU does not accept ACT superscores.
How to apply: ["no application needed", "FAFSA required", "full-time enrollment (12+ semester hours)"]
Source ↗
Merit Tier 3 (25-26 Starts)
Award
$1,500/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.4+
Merit Tier 1 | 3.8-4.0 | 28+ | $8,000 Merit Tier 2 | 3.8-4.0 | 24-27 | $5,000 Merit Tier 3 | 3.4+ | None Needed | $1,500 Merit Tier 4 | 3.0-3.39 | None Needed | $1,000
Eligibility: Awards are based unweighted high school GPA and composite ACT scores. EKU does not accept ACT superscores.
How to apply: ["no application needed", "FAFSA required", "full-time enrollment (12+ semester hours)"]
Source ↗
Merit Tier 4 (25-26 Starts)
Award
$1,000/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.0+
Merit Tier 1 | 3.8-4.0 | 28+ | $8,000 Merit Tier 2 | 3.8-4.0 | 24-27 | $5,000 Merit Tier 3 | 3.4+ | None Needed | $1,500 Merit Tier 4 | 3.0-3.39 | None Needed | $1,000
Eligibility: Awards are based unweighted high school GPA and composite ACT scores. EKU does not accept ACT superscores.
How to apply: ["no application needed", "FAFSA required", "full-time enrollment (12+ semester hours)"]
Source ↗
One Eastern Award
Award
$5,000/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.4+
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
Eligibility: Eastern Kentucky University’s Fall 2026 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! If you meet the following criteria, merit scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed!
How to apply: ["no application needed", "FAFSA required", "full-time enrollment (12+ semester hours)", "admit by merit deadlines (see Important Dates)"]
Source ↗
Out-of-State Rate
All Out of State students admitted to EKU receive our new Out of State tuition rate. Our Out of State rate of $12,240 saves a student an average of $10,540 compared to other in-state institutions. Our Out of State students are also eligible for our Foundation Scholarship awards and other outside scholarships.
Eligibility: All Out of State students admitted to EKU receive our new Out of State tuition rate.
How to apply: ["admission to EKU (out-of-state residency determination)", "FAFSA required for institutional scholarships"]
Source ↗
President’s Award
Award
$7,000/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.8+
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
Eligibility: Eastern Kentucky University’s Fall 2026 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! If you meet the following criteria, merit scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed!
How to apply: ["no application needed", "FAFSA required", "full-time enrollment (12+ semester hours)", "admit by merit deadlines (see Important Dates)"]
Source ↗
Promise Award
Award
$1,000/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 2.0+
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
Eligibility: Eastern Kentucky University’s Fall 2026 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! If you meet the following criteria, merit scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed!
How to apply: ["no application needed", "FAFSA required", "full-time enrollment (12+ semester hours)", "admit by merit deadlines (see Important Dates)"]
Source ↗
PTK Scholarship
Award
$1,500/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.0+
All admissible on-campus transfer students who are Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter members ... are eligible to receive a $1,500 annual scholarship. This renewable scholarship is stackable with other university merit based scholarships and out-of-state tuition discounts.
Eligibility: Eligibility Requirements: On-campus, full-time transfer student seeking first bachelor’s degree. Must maintain a cumulative EKU GPA of a 3.0 and complete at least 12 hours each semester to be eligible for renewal.
How to apply: ["PTK chapter membership", "on-campus, full-time transfer student", "maintain 3.0 cumulative EKU GPA", "complete at least 12 hours/semester"]
📋 Renewal: 3.0 GPA, 12 credits 🔗 This renewable scholarship is stackable with other university merit based scholarships and out-of-state tuitio Source ↗
Regent’s Award
Award
$9,000/yr in-state
Requirements
GPA 3.8+ • ACT 28+ • SAT 1310+
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
Eligibility: Eastern Kentucky University’s Fall 2026 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! If you meet the following criteria, merit scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed!
How to apply: ["no application needed", "FAFSA required", "full-time enrollment (12+ semester hours)", "admit by merit deadlines (see Important Dates)"]
Source ↗

Other scholarships at Eastern Kentucky University (3)

These require a separate application, or the school does not publish their eligibility criteria.

International Students - Merit Aid Eligibility (Net Price Calculator notice)
International students are eligible for merit aid only and should not complete this application.
Eligibility: International students are eligible for merit aid only and should not complete this application.
How to apply: ["international students should consult admissions/financial aid for specific eligibility"]
Source ↗
Tuition Waivers (impact on merit scholarships)
*Please note that tuition waivers cannot stack with merit scholarships. If you receive a tuition waiver and a merit scholarship, your merit will be canceled.*
Eligibility: If a student is offered a merit scholarship/Out of State Discount and is eligible for the Academic Common Market waiver, the scholarship will be canceled to utilize the ACM Waiver.
How to apply: ["tuition waiver application/forms (varies by waiver type)", "waiver-specific eligibility (e.g., foster/adopted children, police/firefighter memorial, cooperating teacher)"]
Source ↗
Foundation Scholarships (Donor-funded)
There are hundreds of scholarships available for EKU students. Eligibility criteria ranges from GPA to county of residence to degree program and more.
Eligibility: Simply fill out the foundation scholarship application and you’ll learn which scholarships you may be eligible for.
How to apply: ["complete foundation scholarship application", "varies by donor criteria (GPA, county, degree program)"]
Source ↗

Deadlines that affect merit consideration at Eastern Kentucky University

Regular Decision
Rolling

Common questions about Eastern Kentucky University scholarships

How much merit aid does Eastern Kentucky University give?

Published awards range $1,000-$9,000/yr. Eastern Kentucky University lists 18 merit scholarships in total.

What GPA or test scores do you need for a scholarship at Eastern Kentucky University?

The lowest published threshold across automatic awards is 2.0 GPA / 24 ACT. Individual scholarships set their own cutoffs.

Is there a full-ride scholarship at Eastern Kentucky University?

Not a full ride. The largest published award covers about 43% of tuition.

Do you have to apply separately for merit scholarships at Eastern Kentucky University?

14 of the published awards are granted automatically on your admission application, with no separate scholarship application.

When is the scholarship deadline at Eastern Kentucky University?

Merit consideration usually follows the admission deadline, which is Rolling. Confirm scholarship-specific dates with the financial aid office.

💡 Tip: Award amounts and cutoffs change year to year. Confirm current figures with Eastern Kentucky University's financial aid office before making decisions — or check their scholarship page.

More on Eastern Kentucky University

Other KY schools with automatic merit scholarships