The thought of college enrollment after high school is the natural next line of action for any high school graduate. College offers specialization, higher knowledge; skills, and experience as well as provides opportunities for versatility and high-income earning jobs. Acquiring a college degree helps prepare one for employability in the job market. However, there are many important factors to consider before accepting the admission offer and enrolling in any of the available college options amongst them are the cost of tuition and the possible availability of scholarships. let us know, “Is College Free In Kentucky?”
College in Kentucky is not free, A statistical analysis of the average annual in-state college tuition in Kentucky for the 2020-2021 academic year was estimated to be $14,407. However, the Kentucky house has made tuition-free programs available on some high-demanding and high-wage courses under a scheme called The Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship.
The Work Ready Scholarship
The Work Ready Scholarship is an attempt by the Kentucky House of Representatives to make obtaining a college degree in particular fields of study free for all Kentuckians with high school diplomas or GED certificates. It requires students to apply for student financial aid, with the state covering the cost of tuition for up to two years as long as they complete 12 courses every semester and maintain a CGPA of at least 2.0.
The student must be a United States citizen and a Kentucky resident to be eligible for this program. Unlike traditional college admissions processes, which require an official high school transcript, an application fee, and an official American College Testing (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score, the Work Ready Scholarship only requires a high school diploma or GED, making it easier and less stressful for applicants. Furthermore, the student can only apply or have been accepted by an institution approved by the Kentucky Higher Education Authority.
The five fields of study covered by the work-ready scholarship
It’s worth noting that the work-ready scholarship is only available for five disciplines of study in Kentucky, all of which are in great demand and pay well. This approach aims to provide residents with the necessary skills to both serve the state and earn a good living, hence increasing the country’s Gross Domestic Income. The following are the five unique fields:
1. Health care
2. Transport and logistic
3. Business services and information technology
4. Advanced manufacturing
5. Construction and trades
The purpose of the Work Ready Scholarship is to equip Kentuckians with marketable skills to compete in the labor market in these specialized high demand and high-paying fields. The work ready scholarship can be used to improve one’s skills or increase one’s earnings. It’s vital to clarify that the scholarship is solely open to those who have never obtained a college degree of any kind; there are no income or age limits, and it is a free opportunity open to all residents.
Does Kentucky have tuition-free college?
Yes!
- Gateway Community and Technical College Florence offer scholarship and tuition-free admission to new or first-time students as well as previous students who as a result of circumstances have taken the least of a year off courses for the spring 2022 semester.
The scholarship provision was to assist students and remove the financial barriers that may have been caused by the pandemic; however, the scholarship only covers tuition and third-party payments once the student has applied for aid
- Berea College is a liberal arts college with a bachelor’s degree program in 32 majors and a nursing program. Tuition-free degrees are available at Berea College, and students can apply for the Tuition Promise Scholarship, which can be paired with other forms of financial aid to pay full tuition fees for four years. The school also provides additional financial support to cover the costs of living, books, and other expenses. According to statistics, 99 percent of freshmen are eligible for the $4,517 Pell Grant each year.
What are the most affordable colleges in Kentucky in the year 2022?
- Murray State University considers freshmen with excellent academic performance automatic scholarships in different capacities, the school offers scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 yearly. There is also the provision for consideration for the University’s presidential award which covers the student’s tuition, accommodation, and board for four years. Students can also qualify for the Pell Grant.
- The University of Kentucky offers scholarships to freshmen who are residents. The scholarship opportunities are the Singletary scholarship which covers tuition, and accommodation provides a yearly stipend of $1,500, an iPad and a $2,000 summer Education Abroad program stipend, and The Presidential Scholarship which covers tuition. Both scholarships are for four years. non-residents and can also qualify for the Bluegrass spirit scholarship which costs $8,000 yearly. Students from under-represented ethnic groups can are considered for the Williams Parker’s diversity scholarship which ranges between $5,000 to $15,000.
- The University of Louisville offers 10 annual scholarship awards under the Grawmeyer scholarship and also as Brown fellows, both scholarships cover tuition, accommodation, and study materials. The Martin Luther King scholars program also offers full in-state tuition scholarship to 10 freshmen of colored races
What is the average tuition fee for Kentucky colleges in 2022?
The average tuition fee for colleges in Kentucky is $14,407. Residents of the state pay the average fee of $6,496 while students from other states outside Kentucky pay the average amount of $17,391.
Centre College has been ranked to have the highest tuition and fees of $46,000 while Lexington Theological Seminary has the lowest at $9,120
Conclusion
Acquiring a college degree is the dream of every high school graduant and sometimes the money factor tends to pose a great threat to that dream, However, the government of the state of Kentucky has made things easier by introducing the work ready scholarship, alternatively, it also, there are scholarships and grants opportunities in colleges for students with outstanding performance.
If you want a tuition-free or all-expenses-paid scholarship, apply for student financial help or put in more effort in school to achieve a high grade that qualifies you for a scholarship.
