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 Alumni of Kentucky Governor’s Programs automatically qualify for Asbury’s top guaranteed academic merit scholarship amount of $15,000 (regardless of GPA) and are invited to compete for the Hughes (100% tuition) and Morrison (60% tuition). This award is given to students who graduated from a Kentucky high school and who completed the Governor’s Scholars Program, the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs or the Governor’s School for the Arts. For more information visit
Bellarmine University awards Governor Scholars Scholarships to entering first-year students who completed the GSP, GSE, or GSA program. Available for full-time enrollment during fall and spring semesters and renewable with a 2.5 cumulative GPA. This award is based on your indication of participation in the GSP, GSE, or GSA programs; there is no separate application process. If you qualify, this award will be reflected in your initial scholarship offer upon admission. https://www.bellarmine.edu/financial-aid/institutional/. Updated 2025
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). https://students.brescia.edu/academic-scholarships/. Updated 2025
Centre College Students who completed Kentucky’s Governor’s Scholars Program will be recognized with an automatic GSP Scholarship worth $140,000 ($35,000 annually for each of your four years of study) upon admission to Centre. The GSP Scholarship cannot be stacked on top of other general merit scholarships, but we encourage Scholars to explore our premier and special scholarship options for more specialized offerings. These separate scholarship deadlines range from November 15 to January 15. For more information about Centre’s scholarships, including the GSP scholarship guarantee, please visit https://www.centre.edu/admission-aid/scholarships-fellowships. Updated 2025
Eastern Kentucky University offers a $8,000 scholarship renewable for 8 semesters to
all Governor’s Scholars with a cumulative GPA of 3.8 and an ACT of at least 28. This scholarship
does not cover any fees, room, or board costs. This scholarship is only
available to incoming freshmen living on campus and is not awarded to all
applicants who meet this criteria. Students must maintain a cumulative 3.2
GPA, earn at least 12 credit hours per semester, and remain enrolled with a
full-time status. https://www.eku.edu/scholarship-opportunities/. Updated 2025
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 State University offers a full Presidential Scholarship to all Governor’s Scholars with a minimum ACT score of 28 (or an SAT score of 1300) and a minimum GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale). The award covers full tuition, room, board, books and fees. Additionally, Kentucky State University offers the provost scholarship for Governor's Scholars with a minimum ACT score of 26 (or aminimum SAT score of 1200) and a minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
https://www.kysu.edu/documents/financial-aid/ksu-scholarship-form-111824.pdf.
Updated 2025
- 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
Midway University offers $2,000 to students who have completed the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program (GSP). Plese note that GSP alums might be eligible for other merit scholarships offered by the institution, in addition to the $2,000 GSP specific scholarship.
https://catalog.midway.edu/scholarships.pdf.
Updated 2025
Morehead State University offers two scholarships for alumni of the Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP), the Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA), and the Governor's School for Entrepreneurs (GSE). The Governor’s Award is worth $32,000 ($8,000 annually for four years of study) for students with a 23 ACT and 3.5 GPA. The Governor’s Award+ is $40,000 ($10,000 annually) for students with a 25 ACT and 3.5 GPA. The Governor’s Awards cannot be stacked on top of other general merit scholarships, but we encourage scholars to explore other opportunities with MSU Foundation scholarships. Updated 2025
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. https://www.murraystate.edu/admissions/scholarships/freshmen.aspx Updated 2025
Northern Kentucky University offers students who participate in the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program merit scholarships. Governor's Scholars with a 3.50+ high school GPA may be offered a $4,500 scholarship. Eligible first-time freshmen are strongly encouraged to accept Direct Admit or apply for admissions to be considered for merit scholarships. Recipients must attend the fall semester immediately following receipt of the scholarship. Merit scholarships are renewable for up to 8 semesters. For additional information and to review scholarship renewal criteria,
https://inside.nku.edu/financialaid/programs/scholarship-renewal-requirements.html.
Updated 2025
Spalding University offers $2,500 to full-time undergraduate students who were Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP), Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA), or Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) awardees in high school and maintain good academic standing. Documentation of GSP, GSA, or GSE participation is required. Most Spalding-funded scholarships are renewable for up to 4 years if you maintain full-time enrollment and good academic standing. Please note, these awards may be reduced if you receive tuition awards from outside sources. Merit scholarships in combination with other grants, scholarships and gift aid cannot exceed the cost of tuition and University room & board charges. https://spalding.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/Updated 2025
Sullivan University The application process is to submit documentation of being a Governor’s Scholars Program graduate to the admissions department. Students will be selected by the following criteria: must be a current Kentucky resident, have completed either the ACT or SAT with a minimum of 21 ACT or 1365 SAT, have a minimum of 3.5 cumulative high school GPA, and have met all requirements of the Governor’s Scholars Program. Selected students will receive $10,000 per academic year through a bachelor’s degree. Students must maintain a minimum of 3.0 quarterly GPA with continuous enrollment. The scholarship has an open number of scholarship recipients annually. Updated 2025
Thomas More University will be offering $25,000 to to students that comepleted the Governor's Scholars Program. This academic scholarship is renewable for up to four years. 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. https://www.thomasmore.edu/admissions/scholarships-financial-aid/scholarships/. Updated 2025
Union Commonwealth University Students must have completed the Governor’s Scholars Program and present the Union College Admissions Office with their certificate of completion. Four spots are held annually on a first come, first served basis once enrollment deposit is paid. This scholarship covers tuition and fees with a 24 ACT score, up to $30,946. Below 24 ACT qualifies for half tuition and fees up to $19,973.
https://www.unionky.edu/scholarships.
Updated 2025
- University of the Cumberlands Students must have completed the Governor’s Scholars Program the summer prior to their intended enrollment year and complete the form below to upload their certificate of completion. Two spots are held annually on a first come, first served basis once enrollment deposit is paid for first-time freshman students. This scholarship covers tuition and fees up to $9,875 for four consecutive years of undergraduate main-campus enrollment and is not stackable with other institutional academic scholarships. Failure to complete the FAFSA application may result in loss of scholarship. For more information, visit https://www.ucumberlands.edu/admission-aid/financial-aid-tuition/types-financial-aid/scholarships Updated 2025
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://studentsuccess.uky.edu/financial-aid-and-scholarships/academic-scholarships/incoming-freshmen-scholarships. Updated 2025
University of Louisville scholarships for GSP is as follows: All Governor’s Scholars alumni with at least a 3.5 are guaranteed at least a $5,000 scholarship, renewable up to 4 years. Awards can be increased to $7,500 or $10,000 depending on test score or academic rigor in high school. Select students will be eligible to apply for the Trustees’ Competitive scholarships, including the Vogt scholarship worth $16,000. Competitive award applications for those who qualify are due by December 1; other Govern’s Scholars awards are guaranteed until May 1. Awards are not stackable and students will receive the highest award amount they qualify for. For additional information, please visit https://louisville.edu/undergraduate-scholarships-aid. Updated 2025
- Western Kentucky University 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 ($6,000 over a four year period) individually. To be considered for this supplemental scholarship, students must have a complete application package on file by December 31st of their senior year. Students who have participated in the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program will receive specific communication regarding an opportunity to upgrade their total scholarship offer to a full, in-state tuition scholarship. Students receiving supplimental scholarships may also be eligible to receive merit awards (Cherry Presidential, Academic, and TOPDollar awards) up to the cost of attendance for the fall and spring semesters. Information on these awards and additional scholarship opportunities available at https://www.wku.edu/financialaid/scholarships/2425awards/2425supplemental.php. Updated 2025
2023 Governor's Scholars Survey Responses
The following data represents survey responses from 2023 Governor’s Scholars who graduated high school in 2024:
Total number of 2023 scholars: 1,050
Total number of survey responses: 347 or 33.00%
These 347 scholars received in total scholarships: $23,505,529
Average scholarship (per scholar): $67,935.00
267 scholars (77% of respondents) are attending Kentucky colleges or universities.
Total in-state 4-year scholarships: $15,946,226
Average in-state 4-year scholarship (per scholar): $59,958.00
80 scholars (23% of respondents) are attending out-of-state colleges or universities.
Total out-of-state 4-year scholarships: $7,559,303
Average out-of-state 4-year scholarship (per scholar): $94,491.25
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 15 classes since 2004 have provided data for the Program's use.
Those scholars have accepted at minimum an astounding $594,738,806 in merit-based funding. Updated 2020