Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
Financial Aid Tip of the Month, June 2010

Kentucky students can earn money for college through the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) program. The KEES program rewards students for making good grades in high school and doing well on the ACT or SAT. The awards may be used upon graduation from high school. No application is necessary. KHEAA will send the funds to the eligible college once the school verifies the student’s enrollment.

Students may use their KEES awards at any public college or university in Kentucky, at most private colleges and universities in the state and at many of the state’s trade schools. If a major isn’t offered in Kentucky, students may be able to use their KEES awards at out-of-state schools that offer that major and belong to the Academic Common Market. These majors must be approved by Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Education. (Illinois, Indiana and Ohio schools are not eligible because those states do not participate in the Academic Common Market.)

Here’s how KEES works: Students earn a KEES base award for each year they achieve at least a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) at a certified Kentucky high school. Students who earn at least one base award can also earn a bonus award for scoring 15 or higher on the ACT or 710 or higher on the SAT. Students who qualified for the free or reduced lunch program any year of high school may also earn bonus awards for scoring at least a 3 on any Advanced Placement (AP) exam or at least a 5 on International Baccalaureate (IB) exams.

Students must meet renewal requirements after their first year of college to remain eligible to continue receiving KEES awards. 

For more information about the KEES program, visit www.kheaa.com.

To learn how to plan and prepare for higher education, go to www.gocollege.ky.gov. For more information about Kentucky scholarships and grants, visit www.kheaa.com; write KHEAA, P.O. Box 798, Frankfort, KY 40602-0798; or call (800) 928-8926, ext. 6-7372.

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