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 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The scholarship pages do not publish a specific merit renewal GPA beyond requiring full-time enrollment and on-campus housing.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.

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.

Morehead State· Renewal Rules

Keeping Morehead State’s Merit Aid for Four Years

What the financial-aid office actually requires after freshman year: minimum GPA, credit-hour pace, and the cliffs that quietly downgrade families mid-degree.

Verified Jun 20268 days ago· COWORK

At a glance

Renewable tiers: 24 of 24
One-time tiers: 0
Tiers with published renewal terms: 24
Renewal risk profile: low

Renewal risk profile

Morehead State's published renewal rules cluster around a 3.0 floor with no major-GPA gating, which is survivable for the typical freshman with steady study habits. The risk is non-renewal due to enrollment status (dropping below full-time), not GPA.

Kentucky Automatic Merit Scholarship — Top Tier (3.8+ GPA / ACT 28+): 2.0 GPA
Kentucky Automatic Merit Scholarship — Full Grid (all cells): Full-time enrollment
Ohio Regional Tuition Advantage Merit Scholarship — Full Grid (select Ohio counties): Full-time enrollment
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship — Tier 1 (Freshman): Full-time enrollment
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship — Tier 2 (Freshman): See notes
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship — Tier 3 (Freshman): See notes
Eagle Leader Scholarship (Indiana, Ohio non-Regional, and Tennessee Students): See notes
SOAR Higher Scholarship (West Virginia Students): Full-time enrollment
George M. Luckey, Jr. Honors Scholarship: See notes
Eagle Opportunity Scholarship: See notes
YMCA Eagle SOAR Scholarship: See notes
Governor's Award — Full Tuition Tier (GSP/GSA/GSE Alumnus): See notes
Governor's Award — $8,000 Tier (GSP/GSA/GSE Alumnus): See notes
Rogers Scholar Award: See notes
Alumni Family Scholarship: See notes
Kentucky Transfer Scholarship: Full-time enrollment
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship — Tier 1 (Transfer): Full-time enrollment
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship — Tier 2 (Transfer): See notes
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship — Tier 3 (Transfer): See notes
Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship: See notes
Regional Tuition Advantage Transfer Scholarship (select Ohio counties): See notes
Eagle Assurance Scholarship (need-based institutional): Full-time enrollment
International Student Scholarship: 2.00 GPA
Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES): See notes

Renewal terms by tier

Kentucky Automatic Merit Scholarship — Top Tier (3.8+ GPA / ACT 28+)
$8,000/yr
Entry requirements: 3.8+ (unweighted high school GPA) GPA · 1300–1600 SAT · 28+ ACT
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.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/kentucky
Kentucky Automatic Merit Scholarship — Full Grid (all cells)
$1,000–$8,000/yr depending on GPA/ACT combination
Entry requirements: 3.0–3.8+ (unweighted high school GPA) GPA · 1030–1600 SAT · 20–28+ ACT
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.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/kentucky
Ohio Regional Tuition Advantage Merit Scholarship — Full Grid (select Ohio counties)
$1,000–$8,000/yr depending on GPA/ACT combination
Entry requirements: 3.0–3.8+ (unweighted high school GPA) GPA · 1030–1600 SAT · 20–28+ ACT
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.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/out-of-state
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship — Tier 1 (Freshman)
$10,000/yr
Entry requirements: 3.75 GPA · 1300–1320 SAT · 28 ACT
To keep it: 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.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/out-of-state
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship — Tier 2 (Freshman)
$7,000/yr
Entry requirements: 3.5 GPA · 1160–1190 SAT · 24 ACT
To keep it: Same housing requirements as Tier 1. If charged in-state tuition because all courses are online or at a regional campus: reduced to $4,000.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/out-of-state
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship — Tier 3 (Freshman)
$4,500/yr
Entry requirements: 3.0 GPA · 1060–1090 SAT · 21 ACT
To keep it: Same housing requirements. If charged in-state tuition because all courses are online or at a regional campus: reduced to $1,500.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/out-of-state
Eagle Leader Scholarship (Indiana, Ohio non-Regional, and Tennessee Students)
$11,000/yr (renewable)
Entry requirements: 2.85 GPA · 1060–1090 SAT · 21 ACT
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.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/out-of-state
SOAR Higher Scholarship (West Virginia Students)
Full tuition
Entry requirements: 3.0 GPA · 1060–1090 SAT · 21 ACT
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.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/out-of-state
George M. Luckey, Jr. Honors Scholarship
Up to full tuition + housing (Fields Hall double occupancy) + Eagle Weekly 7 Meal Plan + $250/semester books + $1,500 education abroad allowance
Entry requirements: Not published — competitive GPA · Not published — competitive SAT · Not published — competitive ACT
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.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/student-support/academic-honors/scholarship
Eagle Opportunity Scholarship
Full tuition
Entry requirements: Competitive — not published GPA · Not published SAT · Not published ACT
To keep it: Renewal terms not published. Separate application required.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/kentucky
YMCA Eagle SOAR Scholarship
Full tuition
Entry requirements: Competitive — not published GPA · Not published SAT · Not published ACT
To keep it: Renewal terms not published. Separate application required.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/kentucky
Governor's Award — Full Tuition Tier (GSP/GSA/GSE Alumnus)
Full tuition
Entry requirements: 3.5 GPA · 1220 SAT · 25 ACT
To keep it: Renewal terms not published on page. Full tuition = $10,192/yr (2025-26 rate).
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/kentucky
Governor's Award — $8,000 Tier (GSP/GSA/GSE Alumnus)
$8,000/yr
Entry requirements: 3.5 GPA · 1130–1150 SAT · 23 ACT
To keep it: Renewal terms not published on page.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/kentucky
Rogers Scholar Award
$9,000/yr + 1 year housing ($4,800)
Entry requirements: 3.25 GPA · 990–1020 SAT · 19 ACT
To keep it: Renewal terms not published. Total first-year value = $13,800.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/kentucky
Alumni Family Scholarship
Up to $1,000/yr
Entry requirements: Not published GPA · Not published SAT · Not published ACT
To keep it: Renewal terms not published. Limited number awarded. Separate application process required.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/kentucky
Kentucky Transfer Scholarship
$1,500–$4,000/yr depending on GPA
Entry requirements: 3.00 ($1,500), 3.25 ($2,500), 3.50 ($4,000) — college GPA GPA · Not required for transfer SAT · Not required for transfer ACT
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.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/transfer
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship — Tier 1 (Transfer)
$10,000/yr
Entry requirements: 3.75+ transfer GPA GPA · Not required SAT · Not required ACT
To keep it: Must be enrolled full-time. On-campus housing required. If all courses online or at regional campus: reduced to $7,000.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/transfer
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship — Tier 2 (Transfer)
$7,000/yr
Entry requirements: 3.50+ transfer GPA GPA · Not required SAT · Not required ACT
To keep it: Same as Tier 1. If all courses online or at regional campus: reduced to $4,000.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/transfer
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship — Tier 3 (Transfer)
$4,500/yr
Entry requirements: 3.00+ transfer GPA GPA · Not required SAT · Not required ACT
To keep it: Same as Tier 1/2. If all courses online or at regional campus: reduced to $1,500.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/transfer
Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship
$1,000/yr
Entry requirements: 3.75+ cumulative college GPA GPA · Not required SAT · Not required ACT
To keep it: Renewal terms not published. May be combined with KY Transfer Scholarship or Non-Resident Merit per transfer page note.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/transfer
Regional Tuition Advantage Transfer Scholarship (select Ohio counties)
$1,500–$4,000/yr depending on GPA
Entry requirements: 3.00 ($1,500), 3.25 ($2,500), 3.50 ($4,000) — college GPA GPA · Not required SAT · Not required ACT
To keep it: Same requirements as Kentucky Transfer Scholarship.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/transfer
Eagle Assurance Scholarship (need-based institutional)
Amount not published
Entry requirements: 2.8 (unweighted high school GPA) GPA · Not required SAT · Not required ACT
To keep it: Renewable if students maintain Pell Grant and KEES eligibility, full-time student status, and live on campus.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/eagle-assurance
International Student Scholarship
$8,000/yr ($4,000/semester)
Entry requirements: Freshmen/transfers <24 hrs: Admission index score of 450+ and ACT 20+/SAT 940+. Transfers 24+ hrs: Cumulative college GPA of 3.00+ GPA · 940 (combined, freshmen or transfers <24 hrs) SAT · 20 (freshmen or transfers <24 hrs) ACT
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.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/scholarships/international-scholarships
Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES)
Amount not published on MSU pages — administered by KHEAA
Entry requirements: Not specified on MSU pages GPA · Not specified on MSU pages SAT · Not specified on MSU pages ACT
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.
Source: https://www.moreheadstate.edu/admissions/finaid/policies/overaward

How families lose this aid

Assuming the KY merit grid awards don't change if you move off campus after first year
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%.
Thinking the KY merit scholarship is based on a weighted GPA
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.

Renewal questions families ask

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 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.
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.

Rules that bite at Morehead State

The renewal trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook, derived from Morehead State's own tier rules and not generic advice.

renewalKentucky 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.

How Morehead State compares across our verified dataset

669 of 751 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
Morehead State is one of them. The cohort minority (82 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 renewal claim is checked against Morehead State’s own published materials.