Kentucky Financial Aid

State grants, eligibility, deadlines, and strategies for Kentucky students

FAFSA deadline: No firm state deadline — file as early as possible for CAP Grant

Kentucky's standout program is the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES), which automatically builds scholarship funds based on a student's high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores each year. The state also offers the College Access Program (CAP) Grant for need-based assistance.

Kentucky grant programs

Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES)

Merit-based

Up to $2,500/year based on cumulative high school GPA (plus up to $500 bonus for ACT score of 28+)

Eligibility

  • Kentucky resident
  • Attend a certified Kentucky high school
  • Earn at least a 2.5 GPA each year of high school (awards accumulate annually)
  • Enroll at an eligible Kentucky institution

Deadline: No application required — automatically calculated from high school records

Official info →

College Access Program (CAP) Grant

Need-based

Up to approximately $2,900/year

Eligibility

  • Kentucky resident
  • Demonstrate financial need via FAFSA (EFC of $5,846 or below)
  • Enrolled at an eligible Kentucky institution
  • U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

Deadline: File FAFSA as early as possible — funds are limited

Official info →

Tips for maximising Kentucky aid

1

KEES builds up each year of high school based on your GPA — a strong GPA in 9th grade starts accumulating scholarship dollars immediately. Every year counts.

2

KEES ACT bonuses reward scores of 15 and above, with the maximum bonus at 28+ — taking the ACT early and retaking it can directly increase your KEES award.

3

The CAP Grant is first-come, first-served based on FAFSA filing — submit your FAFSA as early as October to have the best chance of receiving funding.

Educational guide only. State aid programs, amounts, and deadlines change annually. Always verify current information directly with Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) and your college's financial aid office before making decisions.

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Find colleges in Kentucky that fit your budget, or learn more about the FAFSA process.

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KidToCollege is free to use and editorially independent. Data sourced from public records including IPEDS, Common Data Sets, College Board and FAFSA.gov. Always verify deadlines and requirements directly with institutions. Not a guarantee of admission or financial aid.