The Otis A. Singletary Scholarship is the largest award the University of Kentucky gives an incoming first-year student. For someone coming from outside Kentucky it covers full out-of-state tuition and mandatory fees, course and programme fees, and adds a housing and dining stipend. International applicants can be considered: the university's scholarship FAQ states that international students may be considered for its academic and competitive academic scholarships when they meet the academic minimums.
The academic bar is high. You need a 3.80 unweighted GPA with a 33 ACT or 1450 SAT, or a 4.00 unweighted GPA if you apply without test scores. A TOEFL score cannot stand in for the ACT or SAT.
Read the housing stipend carefully. It is available to Singletary Scholars living on campus in a university residence hall, and only during the first two years of enrolment, so years three and four will cost you rent and food.
The route in is the competitive scholarship section of the admission application, submitted with your transcript by 1 December 2026. Some applicants are interviewed on campus. Renewal needs a 3.40 cumulative GPA alongside full-time enrolment, which is a stiffer standard than the university's other awards.