The Presidential Scholarship is the University of Kentucky's competitive merit award, and for a student from outside the state it pays full out-of-state tuition and mandatory fees. International applicants are in scope: the university's scholarship FAQ says international students may be considered for its academic and competitive academic scholarships once they meet the academic minimums.
The bar is a 3.50 unweighted GPA with a 31 ACT or 1390 SAT, or a 4.00 unweighted GPA if you apply without test scores. A TOEFL score will not substitute for the ACT or SAT, so if your GPA sits below 4.00 you will need one of those two tests.
To be considered you must complete the competitive scholarship section of the admission application, and have your transcript and other documents in by 1 December 2026. Some applicants are invited to campus for interviews. Awards are limited in number and the university is direct about how competitive the pool is.
Living costs are yours to cover, so budget for housing, food, insurance and flights on top. The award renews for four years with at least 12 credit hours a semester and a 3.00 cumulative GPA, and it replaces any smaller academic award you were offered.