Kentucky's Bluegrass scholarship for 2027: apply before the funding runs out
Kentucky's fall 2027 scholarship page tells applicants to complete their files by December 1, 2026, but also warns that funding has run out before the deadline in previous years. Meeting a published academic tier is therefore not the same as having a guaranteed offer.
For nonresident freshmen, start by separating Bluegrass academic consideration from the competitive Presidential and Otis A. Singletary routes. The extra application work and the scope of support differ.
Selected nonresident options
On a smaller screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Route | Selected published criteria | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass | Test-optional unweighted GPA 3.00 / 3.50 / 3.60 / 3.80 | Annual tiers $6,500 / $10,000 / $13,000 / $16,000; funding limited |
| Presidential | Competitive; separate section in admission application | Tuition and mandatory fees, not a full living-cost award |
| Singletary | Competitive; separate section in admission application | Broader support; housing/dining stipend limited to first two years on campus |
The official fall 2027 freshman page also publishes score-based criteria. It uses unweighted GPA and does not use superscores. Read the route that fits your actual record.
A funding limit changes the application order
UK requires the application and supporting documents by December 1, 2026 for consideration. Listed awards cannot be added together: a selective or competitive award replaces the academic award. The university explicitly says institutional awards are not guaranteed.
If Kentucky is a serious option, finish the scholarship-relevant parts before polishing optional applications elsewhere. That does not mean submitting inaccurate work quickly. It means checking the transcript request, missing items and competitive section while there is still time to fix them. Keep a dated confirmation that your file is complete.
Model years three and four separately
A scholarship with temporary housing support needs more than a first-year comparison. Make four annual columns. If an award covers a particular expense only during the first two years, put that expense back into the later columns unless another confirmed source pays it.
For an illustrative budget, a $10,000 annual housing-and-food cost paid by an award for two years would leave $20,000 to fund over years three and four if the cost stayed unchanged. Those are invented round numbers, not Kentucky prices. The point is to expose a later funding gap before enrollment.
What to keep on your shortlist
Keep Kentucky's ordinary merit scenario and its competitive scenario separate until an award decision arrives. Compare each with colleges where you already have a documented affordable price. A tuition scholarship can be valuable while still leaving required fees, housing or other costs outside its terms.
Source checked October 29, 2026 for fall 2027 entry. Before committing, confirm renewal, the exact mandatory-fee coverage and the terms in your award notice. Use the offer comparison guide to compare the remaining four-year cost, rather than adding mutually exclusive awards.