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University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky Bluegrass Scholarship

Check providerPartialMerit-BasedBachelor's

About the Scholarship

The Bluegrass Scholarship is the University of Kentucky's automatic merit award for students who are not Kentucky residents, and that category includes international applicants. The university's scholarship FAQ confirms that international students may be considered for its academic and competitive academic scholarships, provided they meet the academic minimums.

The money sits in four bands, set by your unweighted GPA and your test scores if you submit them. A 3.00 GPA brings $6,500 a year. A 3.00 with a 25 ACT or 1200 SAT, or a 3.50 with no test scores, brings $10,000. A 3.50 with a 25 ACT or 1200 SAT, or a 3.60 test optional, brings $13,000. The top band of $16,000 a year needs a 3.50 with a 30 ACT or 1360 SAT, or a 3.80 with no test scores. Note that a TOEFL score cannot replace an ACT or SAT score here.

There is nothing extra to fill in. Apply for admission with your transcript by 1 December 2026 and you are assessed automatically once admitted. The catch is supply: the university says funds have been exhausted before the December deadline in past years, so a late application can miss out even with the grades.

The award renews for four years if you carry at least 12 credit hours a semester and keep a 3.00 cumulative GPA. You can hold only one award from the academic scholarship programme, so a competitive offer such as the Presidential or Singletary would replace this one.

What It Covers

  • Tuition

A cash award applied towards tuition and fees, from $6,500 up to $16,000 a year depending on GPA and test scores. Housing, food, insurance and travel stay with the student.

Eligibility

Incoming first-time freshmen who are not Kentucky residents, which includes international applicants. The university states that international students may be considered for academic and competitive academic scholarships if they meet the minimum academic requirements. Bands run from a 3.00 unweighted GPA for $6,500, to 3.00 with 25 ACT or 1200 SAT (or 3.50 test optional) for $10,000, to 3.50 with 25 ACT or 1200 SAT (or 3.60 test optional) for $13,000, to 3.50 with 30 ACT or 1360 SAT (or 3.80 test optional) for $16,000. A TOEFL score cannot stand in for an ACT or SAT score. Renewable for four years with full-time enrolment of at least 12 hours a semester and a 3.00 cumulative GPA. Students may hold only one award from the academic scholarship programme.

Eligible Countries

All countries

How to Apply

No separate scholarship application. Submit the admission application and all supporting documents, including your high school transcript, by 1 December 2026, and admitted students who meet the criteria are considered automatically. Funds are limited and have run out before the December deadline in previous years, so applying early matters.

Application Routes and Dates

Early Action admission deadline for scholarship consideration

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Deadline: 1 dic 2026

Applications close: 1 dic 2026.

For autumn 2027 entry. Offers are made while funds last, so earlier is better.

Timing source · Checked 2026-09-13