Like Alabama's chart, the University of Kentucky runs its automatic merit scholarships off a published GPA-and-test-score table -- but UK splits the award by residency into two differently named scholarships with very different ranges, not just two columns of the same chart.
See all 17 real automatic scholarship charts covered this cycle for how this compares to other public universities' own tables.
Kentucky residents: the James F. Hardymon Scholarship
| GPA | Test Scores | Annual Award |
|---|---|---|
| 3.00 | None required | $1,500 |
| 3.25 | None required | $2,500 |
| 3.30 | 26 ACT / 1230 SAT | $3,500 |
| 3.75 | 28 ACT / 1300 SAT | $6,500 |
Non-residents: the Bluegrass Scholarship
| GPA | Test Scores | Annual Award |
|---|---|---|
| 3.00 | None required | $6,500 |
| 3.50 | 25 ACT / 1200 SAT | $10,000 |
| 3.60 | 25 ACT / 1200 SAT | $13,000 |
| 3.80 | 30 ACT / 1360 SAT | $16,000 |
The part worth noticing: a test score isn't required at every tier
Both charts start with a GPA-only row -- no ACT or SAT number needed at all for the base tier of either scholarship. That's a real difference from a school like Alabama, where every tier requires a test score. A Kentucky resident with a strong GPA and a test score they're not happy with still automatically qualifies for $1,500 at a 3.00 GPA alone; a non-resident in the same position starts at $6,500. The jump between the base non-resident tier ($6,500, no test required) and the next one up ($10,000, requiring a 25 ACT/1200 SAT) is also the single largest dollar increment in the resident table for one added requirement -- worth knowing if a student is on the fence about whether an additional test attempt is worth the time.
No superscore, and funding can run out before the deadline
UK states plainly that combined test scores (superscore) are not considered for these awards -- the same single-sitting rule as Alabama and, as with UA, worth checking against whichever of your actual test dates gives the strongest single-sitting composite or total, not your best combination across dates.
The bigger practical risk here isn't the formula -- it's timing. UK's own scholarship office notes that in past cycles, funds have been exhausted before the December 1 deadline, meaning a complete-but-late file can miss consideration even if it technically still meets the December 1 cutoff on paper.
Deadline and renewal
The admission application and all supporting documents must be received by December 1. Recipients must maintain full-time undergraduate status (a minimum of 12 hours each semester) and a 3.0 cumulative GPA to renew -- Singletary Scholars, a separate and more selective UK award, require a higher 3.40 cumulative GPA to renew.
What this means for you
- Apply well before December 1, not on it. UK's own office has seen funds run out ahead of the deadline in past cycles.
- A test score isn't required for the base tier of either scholarship, but it moves you up fast. Check whether one more test attempt clears the next row before deciding it's not worth it.
- Don't rely on a superscore. UK explicitly excludes combined scores from consideration -- your best single sitting is what counts.
- The resident/non-resident gap is real and large. If you're weighing Kentucky against an in-state option, compare the actual dollar figures directly rather than assuming "automatic scholarship" means the same thing at both schools.