Merit-based Scholarships: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

Scholarship information listed here is specific to first time freshmen entering Fall 2024.

Northern Kentucky University offers merit-based scholarships for new, incoming freshman students. Degree-seeking Kentucky residents will be considered for the merit scholarships below.

Merit Scholarship Qualifications

Scholarships are awarded to admitted Kentucky resident degree-seeking students who meet the criteria. Test scores have been removed as a required element for most scholarship awards. However, some students must still provide test scores for admission but those test scores will not be used to determine merit scholarship awards.

There is one exception: the NKU Presidential Scholarship requires the submission of test scores and is reserved for students who achieve at least a 3.75 high school (HS) GPA and have 34 Composite score on the ACT or 1490 on the SAT.

To be considered for merit-based scholarships, students must have:

All admissions application materials must be received before or on January 16, 2024 at apply.nku.edu for priority consideration.
Submit the $40 application fee (The fee is currently being waived. Visit this link for more information).
Submit the high school transcript(s)
If applicable, submit any ACT or SAT scores for Presidential Scholarship consideration

The chart below allows you to use your weighted high school GPA and standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) to estimate your merit scholarship eligibility. Students may receive a scholarship amount ranging from $500 up to full-tuition+$6,000 Housing Stipend. Scholarship awards are subject to availability.

Scholarship Title	Eligibility Criteria	Amount	Renewal Criteria
Presidential Scholarship	3.75+ weighted HS GPA and 34+ ACT/1490 SAT*	Full Tuition +$6,000 Housing Stipend (for students living on-campus in NKU housing)	Eligibility Timeline (Whichever comes first): up to 3 years OR 1^st degree OR Up to 180 credit hours Earn 2.75+ cumulative GPA by end of Year 1 Must maintain a 3.00+ cumulative GPA after second year through fourth year Earn 24 credit hours each academic year Must meet a NKU service requirement
Kentucky Governor's Scholarship	3.50+ weighted HS GPA Students who have participated in the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP), Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts Program (GSA), or the Kentucky Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs Program (GSE)	$4,500	Eligibility Timeline (Whichever comes first): up to 3 years OR 1^st degree OR Up to 180 credit hours Earn 2.75+ cumulative GPA by end of Year 1 Must maintain a 3.00+ cumulative GPA after second year through fourth year Earn 24 credit hours each academic year
Founders Scholarship	3.95+ weighted HS GPA	$4,000	Eligibility Timeline (Whichever comes first): up to 3 years OR 1^st degree OR Up to 180 credit hours Earn 2.75+ cumulative GPA by end of Year 1 Must maintain a 3.00+ cumulative GPA after second year through fourth year Earn 24 credit hours each academic year
Excellence Scholarship	3.70-3.94 weighted HS GPA	$3,000	Eligibility Timeline (Whichever comes first): up to 3 years OR 1^st degree OR Up to 180 credit hours Earn 2.5+ cumulative GPA by end of Year 1 Must maintain a 2.75+ cumulative GPA after second year through fourth year Earn 24 credit hours each academic year
Commonwealth Scholarship	3.00-3.69 weighted HS GPA	$2,000	Eligibility Timeline (Whichever comes first): up to 3 years OR 1^st degree OR Up to 180 credit hours Earn 2.5+ cumulative GPA by end of Year 1 Must maintain a 2.75+ cumulative GPA after second year through fourth year Earn 24 credit hours each academic year

*SAT Combined Critical reading and mathematics scores of 1490 or higher.

Note: Students will receive only one tuition paying scholarship/waiver. Students must review and meet the renewal criteria each year in order to receive the scholarship for the next academic year. The renewal criteria can be found here Institutional Scholarship Renewal Requirements.

NOTE: The tables above do not include additional awards for students with honors, artistic, musical or theatre talent.

Honors students should review information provided by the NKU Honors College.

For artistic, music, and theatre awards, please review the scholarship information from NKU School for the Arts.

NOTE: If a student is offered a merit based scholarship, they will be required to officially accept the scholarship by June 1st in order to receive it.

To maximize your opportunity for other monetary awards, complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA at fafsa.gov.

Merit-based Scholarships

The Office of Student Financial Assistance

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