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Lindsey Wilson University · Kentucky

Lindsey Wilson scholarships and merit aid

Lindsey Wilson (recently renamed from College to University) runs an ACT-banded scholarship ladder from $15,000 to full tuition — but enforces a strict one-institutional-scholarship rule and a 2.5 GPA + 24-credit-hour renewal requirement, with its full-cost Begley Scholarship as the marquee competitive award.

Verified Jul 20262 months ago

The short answer

Is Lindsey Wilson worth a closer look?

Lindsey Wilson awards automatic merit on admission. Lindsey Wilson does not publish a GPA or test chart, so you cannot self-calculate the dollars.

Merit tiers71 based on grades or scores
Research checkedJul 2026By our research team

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Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

$15,000-Full tuition…$15,000-Full tuition (Up to, by ACT band)

ACT-Banded Freshman Scholarship Ladder (Trustee / V.P. Henry / L.R. McDonald Presidential / A.P. White / John B. Horton)

Apply separatelyCan continue
GPA
3.0 minimum high school GPA (all bands)
ACT
Trustee: 30 (up to full tuition); V.P. Henry: 27-29 (up to $18,000); L.R. McDonald Presidential: 24-26 (up to $17,000); A.P. White: 21 (up to $16,000); John B. Horton: 18-20 (up to $15,000)
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

First-time, full-time freshmen. Trustee, V.P. Henry, and L.R. McDonald are explicitly labeled 'Need-based'; A.P. White and Horton are not. All amounts are 'Up to' figures.

How to keep it

Academic scholarships require a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and completion of a minimum of 24 credit hours per academic year (or program-specific standards). Failure results in forfeiture; reinstatement is possible but not guaranteed and subject to availability of funds.

Notes

Page lists each as a separate named award; the page does NOT state awards are automatic, and three of the five are labeled need-based — a merit ladder with a need component. No student may hold more than one institutional academic scholarship (Begley/Wesley excepted).

Source

Full tuition…Full tuition, fees, housing, and food (residential); tuition and fees only if commuting

Begley Scholarship

Apply separatelyCan continue
GPA
3.0 minimum high school GPA
ACT
24 minimum composite
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

Competitive, for graduating high school seniors: FAFSA required; typewritten essay on a committee-chosen topic; three letters of reference (at least one from a high school instructor); application for admission, transcript, ACT/SAT scores. One scholarship per year is also awarded to a returning student via faculty/staff nomination plus essay.

How to keep it

Subject to the general academic scholarship renewal standard (2.5 cumulative GPA, 24 credit hours/year) unless the program specifies otherwise; not stated separately on the page.

Notes

Lindsey Wilson's full-cost flagship. One of only two programs (with Wesley) that can be held alongside another institutional academic scholarship.

Source

Amount not published

Wesley Scholarship

Apply separatelyCan continue
GPA
3.0 minimum on a 4.0 scale
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

Graduating high school seniors active in their local church with demonstrated church leadership and career plans including service to God and their church. Competitive: application to LWU and the Wesley Scholars program, FAFSA, letters of reference from a pastor and a teacher, attendance at Wesley Scholars Day in the spring. Scholars may choose any major but must concurrently earn a major in Christian ministries.

How to keep it

Wesley Scholars must maintain a 3.0 GPA grade point average.

Notes

The dollar value is not stated on the page. Exempt (with Begley) from the one-institutional-scholarship rule.

Source

Full tuition (Up to)

Award for Excellence (National Merit/Achievement Semifinalists)

Apply separatelyCan continue
GPA
3.0 minimum high school GPA
ACT
24 minimum composite
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

First-time, full-time freshmen; National Merit Semifinalists or National Achievement Semifinalists. Students with ACT below 24 or GPA below 3.0 may receive up to one-half tuition.

Source

Full tuition (Up to)

Walter S. Reuling Scholarship (Valedictorian)

Apply separatelyCan continue
GPA
3.0 minimum high school GPA
ACT
24 minimum composite
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

Valedictorian ('No other students may share the same honor.'); first-time, full-time freshmen. ACT below 24 or GPA below 3.0 may receive up to one-half tuition.

Source

Full tuition (Up to)

Kentucky Governor's Scholar Scholarship

Apply separatelyCan continue
GPA
3.0 minimum high school GPA
ACT
24 minimum composite
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

Kentucky Governor's Scholar, Governor's School for the Arts, or Governor's School of Entrepreneurship participants; need-based; first-time freshmen. Below 24 ACT / 3.0 GPA may receive a partial scholarship.

Notes

The companion Rogers Scholar Scholarship is also up to full tuition with identical ACT 24 / GPA 3.0 / need-based terms (one-half tuition fallback).

Source

Amount not published (varies)

Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES)

Based on grades or scoresCan continue
GPA
Based on high school grade point averages
ACT
Based on ACT scores
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

Must be a Kentucky high school graduate; administered by KHEAA; application is not required.

How to keep it

Renewal is contingent on college cumulative GPA: 3.00 or higher, OR between 2.50 and 2.99 while certified as on track to graduate.

Notes

State-administered award listed on LWU's scholarships page; LWU's page does not publish dollar amounts.

Source

See what could change an award

Rules that could change the answer

These are the rules we would flag for your family. Each comes from Lindsey Wilson's published information.

  • Renewal ruleACT-Banded Freshman Scholarship Ladder (Trustee / V.P. Henry / L.R. McDonald Presidential / A.P. White / John B. Horton): renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

    Academic scholarships require a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and completion of a minimum of 24 credit hours per academic year (or program-specific standards). Failure results in forfeiture; reinstatement is possible but not guaranteed and subject to availability of funds. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

  • Outside awardsNo published displacement order

    Lindsey Wilson's policy doesn't specify whether outside scholarships hit loans, grants, or only the COA ceiling. Get a written aid-office answer before chasing private awards.

What families often miss

  1. The page is explicit: 'No student will receive more than one institutional academic scholarship except for the Begley Scholars and the Wesley Scholars Programs.' Only the Eagle Scout/Girl Scout Gold award is marked as stackable with academic scholarships.

  2. Falling short on either forfeits the scholarship; reinstatement after recovery 'is not guaranteed and is subject to availability of funds.'

  3. Every tier is an 'Up to' figure, several tiers (Trustee, V.P. Henry, L.R. McDonald, Governor's/Rogers Scholar) are explicitly 'Need-based,' and the full-tuition awards drop to one-half tuition (or partial) if the student is below ACT 24 / GPA 3.0.

  4. The Begley covers tuition, fees, housing, and food for residential students, but 'If a student chooses to commute, the scholarship will cover tuition and fees only.'

  5. Wesley Scholars 'must also concurrently earn a major in Christian ministries' alongside any other major, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA — higher than the 2.5 general scholarship standard.

  6. The Other Scholarships page states institutional grants and scholarships are for 'Students enrolled on the A.P. White campus in Columbia' (the First Responders 10%-off award is the listed online/extended exception).

  7. Neither scholarships page addresses how outside/private scholarships interact with institutional aid; ask the aid office in writing before counting on stacking.

See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

Test-strong students (ACT-based ladder; a 30 ACT can mean full tuition), Kentucky recognition-award holders (Governor's Scholars, Rogers Scholars, valedictorians), and church-active students chasing the full-cost Begley or Wesley programs.

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Lindsey Wilson, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at Lindsey Wilson, academic year 2021-22
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$14,745
$30,001–$48,000$10,966
$48,001–$75,000$16,066
$75,001–$110,000$17,208
$110,001+$18,182
All income levels (average)$15,070

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Total cost of attendance (sticker), AY 2021-22
$40,879
Published tuition & fees, AY 2022-23
$27,808
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$15,070

That works out to an average 63% discount off the sticker price above — both figures come from the same federal AY 2021-22 Scorecard report, not a number the school itself published.

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
44%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
63%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$16,784 (~$178/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$41,129
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
57%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
47%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

Hard one-award rule: no student may receive more than one institutional academic scholarship, except participants in the Begley Scholars and Wesley Scholars programs. The Eagle Scout & Girl Scout Gold award ($1,000) is explicitly stackable with other academic scholarships. Institutional grants and scholarships are limited to students enrolled on the A.P. White (Columbia) campus. Treatment of outside/private scholarships is not addressed on the pages opened.

From the Academic Scholarships page: 'No student will receive more than one institutional academic scholarship except for the Begley Scholars and the Wesley Scholars Programs.' From the same page: Eagle Scout & Girl Scout Gold 'Can be in addition to other academic scholarships.' From the Other Scholarships page: 'Students enrolled on the A.P. White campus in Columbia are eligible for institutional grants and scholarships.'

Source

Other Lindsey Wilson scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

AmountUp to $1,000EligibilityEagle Scout (Scouting America) or Girl Scout Gold (by age 18); ACT 24; HS GPA 3.0; two reference letters (one from a Scouting official); one-page essay on the benefits of scouting

Explicitly 'Can be in addition to other academic scholarships' — the one stackable add-on.

Source

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityNeed-based; PTK member at a community college transferring with a minimum of 60 earned credit hours; minimum GPA 3.5; essay to Financial Aid Office; proof of membership

Listed for transfers 'to any Lindsey Wilson University community campus.' (Page says 'Minimum high school GPA of 3.5' — likely means transfer GPA; ask the aid office.)

Source

AmountUp to $1,500EligibilityDependent student whose parent or grandparent graduated from LWU

Source

AmountUp to one-half tuitionEligibilityDependent unmarried children under 24 and/or spouses of a Kentucky United Methodist Minister in full-time service (also available for those of a deceased full-time KY UM Minister)

Source

AmountUp to $3,500EligibilityDYW participants with minimum 3.0 HS GPA (Scholastic Winner or Winner: up to $3,500)

Source

AmountUp to $1,100EligibilityQualifying students from eastern Kentucky; funded by the E.O. Robinson Foundation

Source

Amount$500/semester full-time on Columbia campus ($250 part-time); 10% off tuition per semester online/extended campusesEligibilityFirst responders (law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers) with 1+ year of service, plus their spouses and children; application + documentation; maintain 2.5 GPA

Email financialaid@lindsey.edu for the application.

Source

AmountUp to $1,000EligibilityActive member of the United Methodist Church; written recommendation from minister

Source

AmountUp to $2,500EligibilityTaylor County resident; HS GPA, ACT and need considered

Source

AmountAmount varies (based on remaining need-based eligibility)EligibilityFinancially needy entering or current students; HS GPA 3.3+; record of community service; priority to students accepted into the education program

Source

AmountAmount not published on this pageEligibility15 unique, domestic, low-income students with academic ability/talent/potential and demonstrated financial need pursuing biology and math degrees

Contact nissleyl@lindsey.edu; program detail page not opened in this session.

Source

Lindsey Wilson merit aid FAQ

  • What is the scholarship deadline?

    No deadlines are published on the Academic Scholarships or Other Scholarships pages. The Begley requires completing its essay/reference process (see Scholars Day page) and Wesley Scholars must attend Wesley Scholars Day 'held during the spring.' Confirm dates with admissions.

  • What ACT score do I need for each scholarship?

    With a 3.0 HS GPA: ACT 18-20 → John B. Horton (up to $15,000); ACT 21 → A.P. White (up to $16,000); ACT 24-26 → L.R. McDonald Presidential (up to $17,000); ACT 27-29 → V.P. Henry (up to $18,000); ACT 30 → Trustee (up to full tuition). All are 'up to' amounts and several are need-based.

  • What does the Begley Scholarship cover?

    Tuition, fees, housing, and food for residential students (tuition and fees only for commuters). It's competitive: ACT 24+, GPA 3.0+, FAFSA, an essay, and three reference letters.

  • What does Lindsey Wilson cost?

    Published 2025-26 rates: $19,387 per semester for a residential student (tuition $14,040, activity fee $92, technology fee $64, housing $1,886, food $3,305) — about $38,774 per year in direct charges. The 2026-27 schedule is published as a separate PDF; a full COA with indirect costs was not posted on the page.

  • I'm a KY Governor's Scholar / Rogers Scholar / valedictorian — what do I get?

    Each has a named award worth up to full tuition (need-based for Governor's/Rogers) with ACT 24 and GPA 3.0; below those marks the award drops to partial/one-half tuition.

See sources and other schools

How Lindsey Wilson compares

  • 133 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use unclear or unpublished displacement.

    Lindsey Wilson is in a recognizable cluster (133 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 133 of 749 verified schools publish no clear displacement order.

    Lindsey Wilson is one of them. The right move is the aid-office email script below, not a guess.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Lindsey Wilson is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against Lindsey Wilson’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

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