Morehead State automatically awards merit scholarships of $1,000–$8,000/yr to Kentucky freshmen based on a GPA/ACT grid, with full-tuition competitive awards for top scholars, and separate grids for out-of-state and Ohio regional students.
Verified Jun 20263 months ago
The short answer
Is Morehead State worth a closer look?
Morehead State is worth checking if your student has strong grades or scores. We found 24 published awards, and 10 are based on those numbers.
Merit tiers2410 based on grades or scores
Research checkedJun 2026By our research team
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.
Where you landAutomatic merit aid by ACT compositeEach bar marks the ACT score range that qualifies for the tier.
Kentucky resident; automatically considered upon admission application
How to keep it
Scholarships require on-campus housing for a minimum of 4 semesters; 50% reduction if housing requirement not met. Must be enrolled full-time. Renewal GPA for merit scholarships not stated on scholarship page; SAP policy requires cumulative 2.0 GPA for financial aid continuance. Specific merit renewal GPA not published — confirm with aid office.
Notes
This is the maximum cell in the Kentucky Merit grid. Grid covers ACT 20–28+ and GPA 3.0–3.8+. For all cells see sourceExcerpt. Applies to 2026-27 new students per page header.
$1,000–$8,000/yr depending on GPA/A…$1,000–$8,000/yr depending on GPA/ACT combination
Kentucky Automatic Merit Scholarship — Full Grid (all cells)
Based on grades or scoresCan continue
GPA
3.0–3.8+ (unweighted high school GPA)
SAT
1030–1600
ACT
20–28+
See who qualifies and how to keep it+
Who qualifies
Kentucky resident; automatically considered upon admission application. No separate application required.
How to keep it
Scholarships require on-campus housing for a minimum of 4 semesters; 50% reduction if housing requirement not met. Must be enrolled full-time. Specific merit renewal GPA not published on page.
Notes
Full 5×5 grid. Lowest award: $1,000 (3.0–3.29 GPA, ACT 20 or ACT 21–23). Highest: $8,000 (3.8+ GPA, ACT 28+). Awards for GPA below 3.0 not listed — no merit award published for GPA under 3.0.
Must be from eligible Ohio counties: Adams, Athens, Brown, Gallia, Jackson, Highland, Lawrence, Meigs, Pike, Scioto, or Vinton. Reciprocity-based program offering in-state tuition rates.
How to keep it
Automatically considered. Scholarships require on-campus housing for a minimum of 4 semesters; 50% reduction if housing requirement not met. Must be enrolled full-time.
Notes
Identical dollar grid to Kentucky resident grid. These students receive in-state tuition rates AND a merit scholarship. Same 5×5 matrix.
Scholarships require on-campus housing for a minimum of 4 semesters (Note: out-of-state page says 6 semesters for Indiana/Ohio/Tennessee students; 4 semesters for WV students). 50% reduction if housing requirement not met. Must be enrolled full-time. If charged in-state tuition because all courses are online or at a regional campus: reduced to $7,000.
Notes
Page lists this under 'Specialized incoming Out-of-state student scholarships.' Automatically considered. Note: separate housing semester requirement from KY grid (6 semesters for IN/OH/TN per note on same page).
Eagle Leader Scholarship (Indiana, Ohio non-Regional, and Tennessee Students)
Apply separatelyCan continue
GPA
2.85
SAT
1060–1090
ACT
21
See who qualifies and how to keep it+
Who qualifies
Indiana, Ohio (not Regional Tuition Advantage participants), or Tennessee students. Note: 'Regional Tuition Advantage reciprocity program participants excluded.'
How to keep it
Explicitly labeled '(renewable)' on page. Scholarships require on-campus housing for a minimum of 6 semesters (per note on out-of-state page for IN/OH/TN students). 50% reduction if housing requirement not met.
Notes
Listed under Indiana, OHIO & Tennessee Students / Specialized Incoming Student Scholarships. Separate application or automatic — not specified beyond admission application.
West Virginia resident. Listed as 'Automatic Incoming Student Scholarship' — automatically considered.
How to keep it
Scholarships require on-campus housing for a minimum of 4 semesters (WV section note). 50% reduction if housing requirement not met. Must be enrolled full-time.
Notes
Full tuition for WV students with 3.0 GPA and 21 ACT. Labeled 'Automatic' on page. Full tuition = $10,192/yr (2025-26 in-state rate, but WV students pay out-of-state; confirm whether full out-of-state tuition or equivalent — page says 'Full tuition' without specifying in/out rate).
Up to full tuition…Up to full tuition + housing (Fields Hall double occupancy) + Eagle Weekly 7 Meal Plan + $250/semester books + $1,500 education abroad allowance
George M. Luckey, Jr. Honors Scholarship
Apply separatelyCan continue
GPA
Not published — competitive
SAT
Not published — competitive
ACT
Not published — competitive
See who qualifies and how to keep it+
Who qualifies
Incoming MSU freshmen; requires separate application with essay, recent photograph, sample work, and letter of recommendation submitted to Dr. Philip Krummrich (honors@moreheadstate.edu). 2026 application packet listed as TBD.
How to keep it
Renewal terms not published on scholarship page. Page notes scholarship is 'highly competitive and only offered to a limited number of students yearly.' Requires on-campus housing in Fields Hall Honors Learning Community. Confirm renewal GPA with honors office.
Notes
Available to both KY and out-of-state students (appears on both Kentucky and Out-of-State pages). Applied after other financial aid is posted; total aid may not exceed COA (per international page). Benefits include: up to tuition and housing in Fields Hall (up to cost of double occupancy room), Eagle Weekly 7 Meal Plan, $250/semester books, Undergraduate Research Fellowship, $1,500 for required overseas experience, priority registration.
Separate application required. Available to KY and out-of-state students. See application PDF linked from scholarship pages.
How to keep it
Renewal terms not published. Separate application required.
Notes
Appears on both Kentucky and Out-of-State pages under 'Full Tuition scholarships.' Separate application process required (^). Application PDF: moreheadstate.edu/_files/files/admissions-aid/finaid/25-26/ymca-eagle-soar-eagle-opportunity-scholarship-app.pdf
Governor's Award — Full Tuition Tier (GSP/GSA/GSE Alumnus)
Apply separatelyCan continue
GPA
3.5
SAT
1220
ACT
25
See who qualifies and how to keep it+
Who qualifies
Must be an alumnus of Governor's Scholars Program (GSP), Governor's School for the Arts (GSA), or Governor's School for Entrepreneurs (GSE). Kentucky resident. Marked with '+' on page.
How to keep it
Renewal terms not published on page. Full tuition = $10,192/yr (2025-26 rate).
Notes
Two Governor's Award tiers exist: full-tuition (ACT 25/SAT 1220 & 3.5 GPA) and $8,000 (ACT 23/SAT 1130-1150 & 3.5 GPA). Both require alumni status from GSP/GSA/GSE.
Governor's Award — $8,000 Tier (GSP/GSA/GSE Alumnus)
Apply separatelyCan continue
GPA
3.5
SAT
1130–1150
ACT
23
See who qualifies and how to keep it+
Who qualifies
Must be an alumnus of Governor's Scholars Program (GSP), Governor's School for the Arts (GSA), or Governor's School for Entrepreneurs (GSE). Kentucky resident.
How to keep it
Renewal terms not published on page.
Notes
Lower tier of the Governor's Award for GSP/GSA/GSE alumni.
Must be a Rogers Scholar alumnus. Kentucky resident.
How to keep it
Renewal terms not published. Total first-year value = $13,800.
Notes
Housing component ($4,800) appears to be a one-year benefit only based on phrasing '1 year housing.' Confirm whether scholarship base of $9,000 is renewable beyond year 1.
Child, grandchild, or spouse of an MSU alumnus. Limited number awarded. Separate application (^) via MSU Alumni Association portal.
How to keep it
Renewal terms not published. Limited number awarded. Separate application process required.
Notes
Available to KY residents, out-of-state students, and transfer students. Appears across multiple scholarship pages. Transfer page notes: 'Only the Alumni Award and the Phi Kappa Transfer Scholarship may be combined with these scholarships.'
3.00 ($1,500), 3.25 ($2,500), 3.50 ($4,000) — college GPA
SAT
Not required for transfer
ACT
Not required for transfer
See who qualifies and how to keep it+
Who qualifies
Kentucky resident. Must be new transfer student with at least 24 hours of non-developmental, college-level credit. Submit application packet including transcripts by June 15. '2026-27 school year' confirmed on page.
How to keep it
Must maintain full-time enrollment. On-campus housing required for minimum of 4 semesters. 50% reduction if housing requirement not met. Priority application deadline June 15.
Notes
Three-tier structure: 3.50 GPA = $4,000; 3.25 GPA = $2,500; 3.00 GPA = $1,500. Awards based on final college transcripts and GPA.
Regional Tuition Advantage Transfer Scholarship (select Ohio counties)
Based on grades or scoresCan continue
GPA
3.00 ($1,500), 3.25 ($2,500), 3.50 ($4,000) — college GPA
SAT
Not required
ACT
Not required
See who qualifies and how to keep it+
Who qualifies
Must be from eligible Ohio counties: Adams, Athens, Brown, Gallia, Jackson, Highland, Lawrence, Meigs, Pike, Scioto, or Vinton. Transfer student with at least 24 hours.
How to keep it
Same requirements as Kentucky Transfer Scholarship.
Notes
In-state tuition rates plus scholarship matching KY Transfer tiers.
Kentucky high school graduate; Pell Grant eligible (per FAFSA); enrolling as first-time, full-time student; must live in campus housing. FAFSA required.
How to keep it
Renewable if students maintain Pell Grant and KEES eligibility, full-time student status, and live on campus.
Notes
Need-based, not pure merit, but requires HS GPA of 2.8 and Pell eligibility. Fills remaining need for tuition and mandatory fees after other grants and scholarships. Dollar amount not stated — depends on individual need calculation.
Freshmen/transfers <24 hrs: Admission index score of 450+ and ACT 20+/SAT 940+. Transfers 24+ hrs: Cumulative college GPA of 3.00+
SAT
940 (combined, freshmen or transfers <24 hrs)
ACT
20 (freshmen or transfers <24 hrs)
See who qualifies and how to keep it+
Who qualifies
International undergraduate student. Separate application/enrollment process. Cannot be combined with non-resident tuition scholarship.
How to keep it
Must maintain at least a 2.00 GPA (on a 4-point scale) for renewal. Cannot be combined with non-resident tuition scholarship. Cannot be used for internet classes.
Notes
Stacking restriction: cannot be combined with non-resident tuition scholarship. Renewal GPA 2.0 is explicitly lower than standard SAP GPA requirement.
Kentucky resident. State-administered. MSU's pages reference KEES but do not publish the award schedule — see KHEAA (kheaa.com) for amounts.
How to keep it
KEES is a state-administered portable award. MSU's overaward policy states: 'The amount of the Federal Pell Grant and the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) are never reduced.' Eagle Assurance renewal page references 'KEES eligibility' as a renewal condition.
Notes
MSU only documents KEES as a pass-through award that is never reduced in the overaward hierarchy and is required for Eagle Assurance renewal. KEES amounts are not published on MSU pages; award schedule is at KHEAA. Including here only because MSU's official page explicitly names and references it.
These are the rules we would flag for your family. Each comes from Morehead State's published information.
Renewal ruleKentucky Automatic Merit Scholarship — Top Tier (3.8+ GPA / ACT 28+): renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out
Scholarships require on-campus housing for a minimum of 4 semesters; 50% reduction if housing requirement not met. Must be enrolled full-time. Renewal GPA for merit scholarships not stated on scholarship page; SAP policy requires cumulative 2.0 GPA for financial aid continuance. Specific merit renewal GPA not published — confirm with aid office. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.
Straight from the aid office
What Morehead State's aid office says
Per the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Morehead State University, August 2026. How we verify
Outside scholarship overaward reduction order
If the student wins an outside scholarship that causes an overaward, will it reduce his loans or Morehead State's own award first?
If an outside scholarship causes an overaward, the school will first reduce any student loan on the account before reducing other types of financial aid.
“receives an outside scholarship that results in an overaward on his account, we will first reduce any student loan on his account before reducing other types of financial aid.”
Scholarship renewal GPA
What GPA is needed to renew the student's scholarship each year?
The renewal GPA depends on the specific scholarship and only 2026-27 requirements are currently available, and these can change year to year.
“The renewal GPA depends on the specific scholarship. At this time, we only have the scholarship requirements for the 2026-27 academic year available, and these requirements can change from year to year.”
Scholarship recovery/appeal process
Is there a way to regain the scholarship if the GPA requirement is not met for a semester?
If a student does not meet renewal requirements, there is an appeal process that allows the student to potentially regain the scholarship.
“If a student does not meet the renewal requirements, we do offer an appeal process that allows the student to potentially regain the scholarship.”
Source of GPA used for admissions/scholarships
Is the GPA used for scholarship consideration the transcript GPA or calculated differently?
The Admissions Office enters the GPA from the student's high school transcript, but the specific factors considered are not known to this office and should be confirmed with Admissions.
“Our Admissions Office enters the GPA from the student's high school transcript. I am not sure what specific factors they consider when determining the GPA, so this question would be best answered by the Admissions Office.”
Highest automatic merit scholarship
What is the highest merit scholarship automatically awarded?
The Commonwealth Scholarship is currently the highest merit scholarship that is automatically awarded.
“At this time, the Commonwealth Scholarship is the highest merit scholarship that is automatically awarded.”
Additional merit scholarship options
Can the student apply for other merit scholarships beyond the automatic one?
The student may also apply for the Honors Scholarship, Eagle Opportunity Scholarship, or YMCA Eagle SOAR Scholarship, though these have a separate application process and new applications are not yet available.
“may also apply for the Honors Scholarship, Eagle Opportunity Scholarship, or YMCA Eagle SOAR Scholarship. These scholarships have a separate application process; however, the new applications are not available at this time.”
Only one merit scholarship awarded
Can the student receive both the Commonwealth Scholarship and another merit scholarship?
If selected for one of the other merit scholarships, the student would no longer be eligible for the Commonwealth Scholarship, since only one merit scholarship can be awarded.
“If he was selected as a recipient of one of these scholarships, he would no longer be eligible for the merit scholarship. We can only award one merit scholarship.”
What families often miss
Scholarships require on-campus housing for a minimum of 4 semesters (KY/WV/OOS) or 6 semesters (IN/OH/TN students). If you move off campus before meeting this requirement, your scholarship is reduced by 50%.
All MSU scholarships use unweighted high school GPA. A weighted GPA above 4.0 does not help and an unweighted GPA may be lower than expected.
Transfer scholarships may ONLY be combined with the Alumni Family Award and the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship. Combining them with other institutional awards is not permitted.
The Honors Scholarship is applied after other financial aid is posted and total aid may not exceed the cost of attendance. Students with significant other aid may see their Honors Scholarship reduced.
If a non-resident merit scholarship recipient is charged in-state tuition because all courses are online or at a regional campus, Tier 1 is reduced from $10,000 to $7,000; Tier 2 from $7,000 to $4,000; Tier 3 from $4,500 to $1,500.
Only tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and meal plan are billed directly. Books, transportation, and personal costs are estimates. The COA is used for financial aid eligibility calculations, not the amount owed.
The Kentucky scholarships page states these full-tuition awards 'require a separate application & have an early deadline.' Specific deadline is not published but described as 'early'; check with scholarships@moreheadstate.edu.
The page explicitly states: 'This scholarship cannot be combined with the non-resident tuition scholarship.'
Per MSU's overaward policy, KEES (like Pell) is never reduced in any overaward correction. Institutional merit scholarships are reduced before KEES.
All MSU institutional scholarships require full-time enrollment. Part-time enrollment cancels the scholarship.
See costs and school data+
Who this school may work for
Kentucky high-school seniors who want automatic merit consideration without a separate application; out-of-state students from Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, or West Virginia who may qualify for large reciprocity or regional awards; competitive scholars seeking full-tuition honors awards.
Cost and graduation facts
Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Morehead State, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.
Average annual net price by family income at Morehead State, academic year 2021-22 — in-state, Title-IV aid recipients only
Family income
Average net price paid
$0–$30,000
$7,150
$30,001–$48,000
$7,057
$48,001–$75,000
$8,874
$75,001–$110,000
$13,341
$110,001+
$15,164
All income levels (average)
$9,793
Sticker price vs. what students actually pay
Total cost of attendance (sticker), AY 2021-22
$21,961
Published tuition & fees (in-state), AY 2022-23
$10,024
Published tuition & fees (out-of-state), AY 2022-23
$14,980
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$9,793
That works out to an average 55% 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.
Morehead State is a public school; Scorecard's net price and cost of attendance figures cover in-state, Title-IV-aid-recipient payers only — there is no comparable federal figure for out-of-state students.
Outcomes for students who enrolled here
Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
52%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
65%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$22,250 (~$236/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$43,197
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
56%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
58%
See other scholarships and cost examples+
If your student brings another scholarship
Total financial aid from all sources cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance (COA). When an overaward occurs, MSU first eliminates loans (work-study, private, PLUS, unsubsidized federal, subsidized federal) before reducing institutional merit scholarships. The Pell Grant and KEES are never reduced. The Honors Scholarship is applied after other financial aid is posted. Transfer scholarships may only be combined with the Alumni Award and Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship. The International Student Scholarship cannot be combined with the non-resident tuition scholarship.
The overaward policy establishes a priority reduction order: (1) Federal Work-Study, (2) Alternative/Private Loan, (3) PLUS Loan, (4) Grad PLUS, (5) Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan, (6) Subsidized Federal Direct Loan, (7) Need-Based Scholarships by Financial Aid Office, (8) Academic Scholarship Office Scholarships (including Commonwealth, Kentucky Scholars Award, Dean's Scholar, Governor's Scholar, Rogers Scholar, Eagle Opportunity, Alumni, Honors, Non-Resident Merit, Reciprocity Merit, Transfer Scholarship), (9) Federal TEACH Grant, (10) KY Teachers Scholarship, (11) FSEOG, (12) KY CAP Grant. Pell and KEES are never reduced. Transfer page explicitly states: 'Only the Alumni Award and the Phi Kappa Transfer Scholarship may be combined with these scholarships.' Honors Scholarship on international page: 'They're applied after other financial aid is posted (total aid may not exceed the cost of attendance).'
AmountFull tuition and fees; $1,200/year book allowance; $300–$500/month stipendEligibilityFull-time undergraduate or graduate students (2–4 years remaining) with GPA of 2.5+, meeting qualifications to commission as Army Officer. Deadline: December 1.
Contact Department of Military Science, 606-783-2106 or 606-783-5225.
AmountFull tuition and fees; $1,200/year book allowance; $300–$500/month stipendEligibilityNursing majors with ACT 19 (SAT 990–1020) or higher and GPA of 2.5+. Deadline: December 1.
AmountUp to $59,200 (before taxes)EligibilityMust be enrolled in Construction Management major at MSU. Apply by Feb. 1 (year on page listed as 2025, may be stale — confirm).
State government scholarship with major restriction to Construction Management. Email kytc.scholarships@ky.gov.
Do I need to submit a separate application for the Kentucky merit grid scholarships?
No. You are automatically considered for the GPA/ACT merit grid when you apply for admission. ACT/SAT scores are not required for admission but are used for scholarship eligibility.
What is the scholarship priority deadline?
March 15 is the scholarship priority deadline per the Financial Aid page. Transfer scholarship priority deadline is June 15.
What GPA do I need to renew my merit scholarship each year?
The scholarship pages do not publish a specific merit renewal GPA beyond requiring full-time enrollment and on-campus housing. The SAP policy requires a cumulative 2.0 GPA for financial aid continuance. Contact scholarships@moreheadstate.edu to confirm the merit-specific renewal GPA.
Does the SOAR Higher Scholarship cover WV students' out-of-state tuition or in-state tuition?
The page says 'Full tuition' without specifying the rate. West Virginia students are charged non-resident tuition ($15,362/yr in 2025-26). Confirm with aid office whether 'Full tuition' means full out-of-state tuition or only in-state equivalent.
What does the Honors Scholarship cover for 2026?
The 2026 application packet is listed as TBD as of 2026-06-04. Benefits documented from current page include: up to tuition, up to cost of a double occupancy room in Fields Hall, Eagle Weekly 7 Meal Plan, $250/semester bookstore, Undergraduate Research Fellowship, $1,500 education abroad, priority registration. Contact honors@moreheadstate.edu.
Is KEES portable to Morehead State?
MSU's overaward policy confirms KEES is honored and never reduced. The Eagle Assurance Scholarship renewal requires maintaining KEES eligibility. KEES award amounts are not published on MSU pages — see KHEAA (kheaa.com) for the current schedule.
Can I receive both a KY merit scholarship and the Honors Scholarship?
The Honors Scholarship is applied after other financial aid; total aid cannot exceed COA. There is no explicit prohibition on receiving both, but the Honors award will be reduced if total aid would exceed COA. Confirm with scholarships@moreheadstate.edu.
See sources and other schools+
How Morehead State compares
235 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use cost-of-attendance cap displacement.
Morehead State is in a recognizable cluster (235 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.
665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
Morehead State 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 Morehead State’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.
