Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES)
ListedScholarship
- Award
- Each qualifying high-school year earns $187 at 2.75 GPA to $500 at 4.00 toward each college year; earned annual base amounts accumulate. Highest pregraduation ACT/SAT bonus up to $500; free/reduced-lunch eligible students can add $200-$300 per qualifying AP/IB/Cambridge examination, with no examination-count cap. Half-time college enrolment minimum; part-time amounts adjusted. Award expires at eight funded semesters, five years after graduation or bachelor degree, whichever first. Separate comprehensive-transition programme awards for students with intellectual disabilities are $250/$500 per term based on load, up to eight terms.
- Deadline
- No separate ordinary college scholarship application. Optional workforce reimbursement for July 2026-June 2027 expenses requires postmark by June 1, 2027; 2027-28 reimbursement deadline not published in current guidance.
- How to apply
- No separate application for ordinary college route: school reports grades, test results and eligibility; check MyKHEAA records and college financial-aid office. Approved workforce reimbursement instead requires Pathway Selection Form, request form and clear itemised receipts after eligible expenses are paid.
- What you'll need
- No separate application: you are considered when you apply for admission
- Who can apply
- Kentucky resident, U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident; not a convicted felon. Certified-school GPA route needs approved curriculum and at least 2.75 in an award-earning year beginning 2026-27. Kentucky homeschool/noncertified-school graduates and qualifying GED recipients (age 18-23) can earn a score-only award, without the school GPA route. Certain Kentucky-resident military dependents, exchange/Page School students and approved programmes outside Kentucky qualify.
- Good to know
- Full renewal after first college year needs 2.50 cumulative GPA. Later full renewal requires 3.00 OR 2.50-2.99 plus certified on-track graduation progress. A 50% award may apply at 2.50-2.99 off track with prior full-time enrolment; below 2.50 loses award until eligible at a later spring review. Summer grades cannot repair preceding spring determination. Comprehensive-transition awards have separate renewal exception. Approved workforce/apprenticeship/proprietary/KCTCS and art/design reimbursement routes exist; ordinary out-of-state college use requires Academic Common Market approval.
- Details
- Test optional