The new scholarship model will award a scholarship to every in-state, full-time, on-campus freshman student.
Eastern Kentucky University has a new scholarship model that will benefit incoming freshmen beginning in the Fall 2026 semester. The new scholarship model will award between $1,000 and $9,000 to every incoming freshman who is enrolled full-time on campus and is an in-state Kentucky resident. This development makes the university the only one in Kentucky that offers a scholarship to every single incoming in-state freshman.
According to an article on Eastern Kentucky University’s website, Dan Hendrickson, who serves as the university’s chief enrollment and marketing officer, was quoted as saying of the change, “While out in our communities, we talked to students and families about managing the cost of higher education, and their feedback was clear. We have to provide a scholarship model that is easy to understand, focuses on making college more affordable and serves EKU students and our service region—and that is what we are announcing today.”
The new scholarship model is being introduced to continue providing students with ways to make college more affordable and more accessible. The university estimates that 85% of its student body are Kentucky residents and 50% of its students are first-generation college students. Additionally, the school notes that most of its students receive financial aid to attend the school.
With the new scholarship model, students who are applying to Eastern Kentucky University will have access to their potential award amount based on their grade point average and their test scores. The Regent’s Award is the highest scholarship the university will award to incoming freshmen based on the new model, and it will provide $9,000 to students with a 3.8 GPA and a 28 or higher ACT score.
University President David McFaddin said, “We have a longstanding commitment to Kentucky families, particularly those who are first-generation or from our service region. As a whole, our scholarship model provides more aid to more Kentucky students than any other comprehensive regional university.”
Tanlee Wasson, who serves as the university’s senior vice president of Student Success, Engagement, and Opportunity, said, “We continue to find innovative ways to remove barriers to higher education for our students. We’re excited to roll out the Eastern Experience scholarships, reflecting our role as Kentucky’s School of Opportunity.”
For more information about Eastern Kentucky University, visit the school’s website.