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Governor's Scholars Program

Scholarships

​​​​​​​​​​Scholarships Offered to Kentucky Governor's Scholars

The Governor’s Scholars Program is not a scholarship program, and therefore does not offer scholarships. The scholarship opportunities below are offered by Kentucky colleges and universities to students who have completed the five-week Governor’s Scholars Program. For the most up to date information, please contact the respective college or university. If you contact the GSP office regarding scholarships, you will be directed to that university/college for any questions or concerns.

Please note: If you are a Scholar currently receiving a GSP scholarship and are transfering to another university/college, contact that university/college to verify if that scholarship will transfer (most do not and are offered to incoming Freshman only).

  • Asbury University offers scholarships equal to 35% of tuition to students who graduated from Kentucky high schools and who attended either the Governor's Scholars Program, the Governor's School for Entrepreneurs, or the Governor's School for the Arts. Recipients of the Governor's Scholarship are not eligible for additional Asbury University merit or minority scholarships. This Scholarship will not, however, affect additional need-based Asbury aid or aid received from the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) program or other external sources. This award is renewed for up to four years or eight semesters provided the recipient maintains a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at Asbury University. Recipients of the Kentucky Governor's Scholarship will be invited to campus to compete for the Hughes (100% tuition) and Morrison (75% tuition) scholarships. Updated 2019
      

  • Bellarmine University offers students who participate in the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program, Governor's School for the Arts and the Governor's School for Entrepreneurs $30 thousand per year. The award is renewable for eight semesters. Additionally, recipients also apply for Bellarmine's many other scholarship opportunities, including the Catholic School Scholarship, the Joan and Lee Thomas Multicultural Grant and Trustee scholarships, along with need-based grants. They may also apply for Bellarmine's full-ride Honors Scholarships.  ​

    For more information and eligibility requirements, please visit https://www.bellarmine.edu/admissions/undergraduate-financial-aid-and-tuition/public-price-promise/. Updated 2022

  • Berea College offers a Tuition Promise Scholarship (4-year value of $176,000) for each Governor's Scholar who enrolls. Updated 2019
     

  • Brescia University offers merit scholarships to all admitted students ranging from $5,000 - $20,000 depending on their cumulative unweighted GPA. Merit scholarships are renewable for up to 8 semesters. In addition to merit scholarship eligibility, admitted students at Brescia may also choose to apply for two competitive scholarships – the Moore Presidential Scholars Program (for all admitted students) and/or the Henry E. and Mary Williams LaRue O’Bryan Scholarship (for students planning a major within Brescia’s Charles Albert Reid School of Business). Updated 2021

  • Campbellsville University offers three full-tuition scholarships to students who participated in the Governor's Scholars Program. Application and essay required. Students must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.5 and 25 ACT/1140 SAT. Deadline to apply is November 1st. Updated 2019
     

  • Centre College All alumni of the Governor’s Scholars Program who have applied and are admitted to Centre College ​will be recognized with an automatic GSP Scholarship worth $120,000 ($30,000 annually for each of your four years of study). We encourage Scholars to also explore our premier and special scholarship options.For more information about Centre’s scholarships, including the GSP scholarship guarantee, please visit https://www.centre.edu/admission-aid/scholarships-fellowships​​. Updated 2023 

  • Eastern Kentucky University offers a full tuition scholarship renewable for 8 semesters to all Governor’s Scholars with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 and an ACT composite of 25 or above. This scholarship does not cover any fees, room, or board costs. This scholarship is only available to incoming freshmen and is not awarded to all applicants who meet this criteria. Students must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA and remain enrolled with a full-time status. Updated 2020 

  • Georgetown College offers a $12,000 Governor's Scholar Scholarship per year, renewable for four years to each incoming freshman completing the Governor's Scholar Program. To maintain the scholarship the student must have minimum of a 2.8 GPA. While Governor's Scholar Scholarships can not be combined with other academic awards, Scholars with higher GPA's and ACT may qualify for other academic scholarships worth more than $10,000 per year.
     
  • Kentucky Christian University offers a $10,000 Presidential Scholarship (renewable) to Governor's Scholars who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 and an ACT composite of 28 or above. This scholarship is available to incoming freshmen.
     
  • Kentucky State University offers a full Presidential Scholarship to all Governor’s Scholars with a minimum ACT score of 26 and a minimum GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale). The award covers full tuition, room, board, books and fees. Other scholarships include an Excellence Scholarship with a minimum ACT of 24 and minimum GPA of 3.25 which covers the value of in-state tuition, ½ room and ½ board, Thoroughbred Scholarship to all Governor’s Scholars with a minimum ACT of 21 and minimum GPA of 3.0 which covers the value of in-state tuition, and a Service County Scholarship with a minimum GPA of 3.0, which cover the value of in-state tuition for residents in the following counties: Anderson, Franklin, Frankfort Independent, Henry, Eminence Independent, Owen, Scott, Shelby, and Woodford.
     
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College offers students who have participated in the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE), Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA), and/or Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP), who have a 2.8 GPA or above, and a 21 ACT or above the Governor’s Scholars Scholarship. Ten scholarships with a value of $12,500/year, renewable for four years will be awarded. Students who have been awarded a Governor’s Scholars Scholarship must maintain a 2.8 GPA or above. Updated 2017
     
  • Lindsey Wilson College offers up to full-tuition, renewable scholarships to students with an ACT composite score of 24 or above. Students with a 23 or less receive up to one-half tuition. The students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and must be a first-time, full-time freshman. Scholarship renewal requires a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.5 and completion of a minimum of 24 credit hours per academic year. There is an unlimited number of scholarships available for Governor’s Scholars.
     
  • Midway College offers merit scholarships to all admitted students ranging from $6,000 - $11,000 per year. Updated 2019
     

  • Morehead State University offers a $8000 per year scholarship (8 semesters) to Governor's Scholars who apply for admission by March 15. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must submit a completed application packet, including admission application form, transcripts and test scores, by the March 15 priority application deadline. Students must meet the following criteria: Be a legal resident of Kentucky; be an alumnus of the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program (GSP), Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts (GSA), or Kentucky Governor’s School for Entrepreneurship (GSE); have at least a 3.5 unweighted high school GPA and a minimum 25 ACT composite score (1130 SAT composite verbal + math). This scholarship cannot be awarded in addition to another academic achievement scholarship. Updated 2021


  • Murray State University offers Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP), Governor's School for the Arts (GSA) or Governor’s School for Entrepreneurship (GSE) alumni a renewable full tuition scholarship if they have at least a 25 ACT composite score and a 3.5 cumulative GPA. These GSP/GSA/GSE scholarships are awarded for four years equal to the cost of tuition for eight consecutive semesters - or until the first Bachelor’s degree is obtained - whichever occurs first. Students are required to maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA to renew the scholarship each academic year. GSP/GSA/GSE scholarships cannot be combined with MSU’s Academic Achievement Scholarship or CHA scholarships. In order to qualify for any scholarships at Murray State, students must complete and meet the appropriate admission and scholarship processes and deadlines. Updated 2024


  • Northern Kentucky University offers students who participate in the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program, Governor's School for the Arts and the Governor's School for Entrepreneurs merit scholarships up to full in-state tuition.  Full-tuition awards may be offered to Governor's Scholars with a 3.75+ high school GPA and an ACT Composite score of 34 or higher (SAT score of 1490 or higher). Governor's Scholars with a 3.50+ high school GPA may be offered a $4,500 scholarship.  A $2,000 scholarship may be offered to Governor's Scholars with high school GPAs ranging from 3.00-3.49.  Students are encouraged to apply for admission by December 1, 2022 for priority consideration.  Merit scholarships are renewable for up to 8 semesters. For additional information and to review scholarship renewal criteria, visit https://inside.nku.edu/financialaid/programs/scholarships/is-freshman/governors-scholars.html.  Updated 2022
     

  • Spalding University offers $2,500 to all Governor's Scholar alumni. Spalding also offers renewable academic merit awards ranging from $2,000 - $14,000 per year. Candidates must have a minimum composite ACT of 18 or SAT 960 and a minimum high school GPA of 2.5.  Merit awards for incoming freshmen are for undergraduate study and renewable for up to four years provided the student maintains a GPA of at least 3.0 and full-time student status. Updated 2021

     

  • Thomas More College will be offering $25,000 to GSP students. Students must be accepted to Thomas More University and submit their certificate of completion for the GSP program when they apply. For information about additional scholarships, we encourage students to reach out to their admissions counselor about eligibility and requirements. The link to our admissions page is www.thomasmore.edu/admissions. Updated 2021

     

  • Transylvania University All Kentucky Governor's Scholars and participants in the Governor's School for the Arts and Governor's School for Entrepreneurs receive a guaranteed minimum award of $23,000 per year. Students who qualify for more scholarships and grant aid will receive the larger amount. Updated 2019

  • Union Commonwealth University Governor’s Scholars can apply for this full tuition scholarship. Candidates must earn a 24 or better ACT or SAT equivalent and have a 3.0 or higher GPA. A FAFSA form is required.
     
  • University of the Cumberlands offers a competitive, automatic scholarship to all students who have participated in the Governor's Scholars Program, regardless of high school GPA and test scores. Updated 2019

  • University of Kentucky is pleased to provide scholarship opportunities to first time freshmen who complete the Governor's Scholars Program and are enrolling at UK for the fall semester. Students must apply and have qualifying academic credentials on file by the Early Action Deadline (December 1). Additionally, applicants for the Kentucky Governor's Scholar Presidential Scholarship must complete the competitive scholarship section of the admission application to have their application reviewed for this highly competitive scholarship as a limited number of scholarships will be offered. All scholarship offerings are subject to change each year. For additional details, please reference the information available online on UK's website: https://www.uky.edu/financial​aid/scholarships. Updated 2023

  • University of Louisville scholarships for GSP is as follows:  Tier 1- Full In-State Tuition, renewable up to 4 years. Must have a 3.5 high school GPA and a 31 or above on the ACT (1390+ on SAT).Tier 2- $7,500 Scholarship, renewable up to 4 years. Must have 3.5 high school GPA ​and between a 28-30 on the ACT (1300-1380 on SAT). Tier 3- $5,000 Scholarship, renewable up to 4 years. Must have a 3.5 high school GPA. No minimum test score required. Updated 2019


  • University of Pikeville offers academic scholarships based on academic merit.  Governor's Scholars and Governor's School for the Arts alumni will receive an additional $3,200 GSP/GSA scholarship.  Scholarships are renewable with maintenance of cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and completion of 24 credit hours during the prior academic year.
     
  • Western Kentucky University offers merit awards for students with a minimum 3.3 unweighted GPA and 25 ACT/1130 SAT, ranging from $1,500 to $8,000 per year.  Students with a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA (no ACT/SAT requirement) who complete the Governor’s Scholars Program, are eligible to receive a $1,500 annual award (this may be in addition to an Academic Merit award).  To qualify for an Academic Merit award and the Governor’s Scholars Program award, students should apply for admission by January 15 of their senior year.  Students with a minimum 3.8 unweighted GPA and 31 ACT/1360 SAT that apply by December 1 of their senior year will be invited to compete for WKU’s most prestigious award, the Cherry Presidential Scholarship.  If selected as a Cherry Presidential recipient or finalist, the award will replace any previously awarded Academic Merit award (however the $1,500 Governor’s Scholars Program bonus award will still apply).  Students are eligible to receive merit awards up to the cost of attendance for the fall and spring semesters.  Information on these awards and additional scholarship opportunities available at http://www.wku.edu/scholarship.


2018 Governor's Scholars Survey Responses

The following data represents survey responses from 2018 Governor’s Scholars who graduated high school in 2019:

Total number of 2018 scholars: 1,028

Total number of survey responses: 514 or 50.00%

These 514 scholars received in total scholarships:  $38,036,374

Average scholarship (per scholar):  $76,841.16

414 scholars (80.5% of respondents) are attending Kentucky colleges or universities.

Total in-state 4-year scholarships: $28,070,658

Average in-state 4-year scholarship (per scholar): $68,464.29

100 scholars (19.5% of respondents) are attending out-of-state colleges or universities.

Total out-of-state 4-year scholarships: $9,966,016

Average out-of-state 4-year scholarship (per scholar): $117,247.25

The first class of scholars from whom the Governor's Scholars Program requested scholarship information completed the Program in the summer of 2004 and enrolled in college in the fall of 2005.  Approximately half of the scholars from the 14 classes since 2004 have provided data for the Program's use.

Those scholars have accepted at minimum an astounding $564,637,769 in merit-based funding.

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