You may qualify for up to $4,000 in scholarships!
Scholarship Opportunities
Scholarship opportunities of varying award amounts are a great opportunity for students to finance their education. Scholarships may be based on a variety of factors such as your geographic location, major field of study, involvement in extracurricular activities, hobbies and interests, associations and memberships, specific personal characteristics, or financial need.
If you have earned college credit at an institution other than WKU, you are considered a transfer student – and you may qualify for transfer scholarships of up to $4,000!
Once admitted, you will automatically be considered for the following Transfer Scholarship Options:
| GPA | Scholarship Award |
| 3.8+ | $4,000 |
| 3.5 - 3.799 | $3,000 |
| 3.0-3.499 | $1,500 |
Transfer scholarships require full-time enrollments. Students receiving a Transfer Targeted Award may also be eligible for a Transfer Base Award and TOPDollar awards, up to cost of attendance.
Learn more About Transfer Scholarships
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Students who are receiving a WKU Transfer Scholarship and are members of Phi Theta Kappa are eligible for an additional $1,000 award per academic year.
The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship requires full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours) at WKU.
Scholarship awards are applied toward charges that exist on the student’s account at WKU. In the event total awards (grants, loans, scholarships) exceed total charges (tuition, fees, housing, meals, books), a refund will be issued to the student by the option chosen when selecting the refund preference at my.wku.edu. For more information about the refund preference process, please visit the Office of the Bursar's website.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships are automatically renewable with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (at the end of the Spring semester). Students who fail to meet the renewal GPA of 3.0 can use the summer term to bring their GPA up to the required level.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships are renewable until graduation.
*Note: Transfer Scholarships are not applicable if receiving a full tuition scholarship, waiver, or discount.
This scholarship management system, powered by Academic Works, provides a complete list of all scholarship opportunities that are available for students at Western Kentucky University.
The WKU TOPDollar Scholarship Source allows you to search for various opportunities that exist and complete one General Scholarship Application* to be eligible to be considered for scholarship opportunities at WKU. The questions you answer on the General Scholarship Application are designed to “automatch” you to available scholarship opportunities for which you meet the specified criteria.
For a step-by-step guide for locating and completing the TopDollar General Scholarship Application, use this PDF.
In addition to the scholarships that are awarded by the University based on academic merit, there are numerous scholarships that are awarded by the College Heights Foundation through private funds established by alumni and friends, academic departments or programs throughout the University, or by community organizations and professional associations. Some of the potential scholarship opportunities that exist may require you to provide additional materials in addition to the General Scholarship Application (i.e. an essay, resume, letters of recommendation, interview, etc.). Those opportunities will be presented to you as “recommended scholarships” after you complete the General Scholarship Application.
In addition to academic merit scholarships, WKU Owensboro is able to offer scholarships* to students who will be completing their degree here on the Owensboro campus! All scholarships require FAFSA, TopDollar, and many require a separate paper application.
For the most up-to-date information, visit TOPDollar.
Requirements/Important Info:
- Full-time student & a graduate or resident of McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, or Webster counties in Kentucky
- Major in healthcare related discipline(s)
- Renewable with a cumulative GPA of 3.0
Financial need is to be considered.
Requirements/Important Info:
- Must be enrolled in a WKU Owensboro Social Work Hybrid degree program.
- Minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average out of a 4.0 system.
- Applicants may be invited for an informational interview with the Scholarship Fund Committee.
- Deadlines: complete application and required essay by August 1 (for the fall semester) and Nov. 15 (for the spring semester).
Requirements/Important Info:
- Full-time or part-time student at WKU in Owensboro
- Graduate of Hancock County High School & a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0
- Have a FAFSA on file
- Submit an official Hancock County High School transcript
Financial need is an important consideration.
Requirements/Important Info:
- Graduate student pursuing a Masters in Teacher Education at WKU
- Currently teaching in the Hancock County School System
Financial need is to be an important consideration.
The Daviess County-Owensboro-McLean County Retired Teachers Association will grant a $1,000 scholarship to a junior or senior college student who plans to enter the teaching profession.
To qualify, students must meet the following criteria:
- Be a junior or senior in college during the 2022-23 school year.
- Be accepted into the Teacher Education Program.
- Be a resident of Daviess County or McLean County and a graduate of the Owensboro, Daviess County Public or McLean County Schools.
Those interested should submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty member or advisor and an essay on the topic “why I want to be a teacher."
Each applicant should send his/her application to the address listed below by April 11, 2022.
Joanna Blaney, Scholarship Chairperson
Daviess County-Owensboro-McLean County Retired Teachers Association
151B Linden Ave.
Owensboro, Kentucky 42301
The recipient will be chosen by a committee of retired teachers and notified by May 9, 2022.
Requirements/Important Info:
- Full-time student with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Graduate of Owensboro High School or a resident of Owensboro, KY/Daviess County
- First preference will be given to students majoring in Mathematics or a participant in ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps)
Requirements/Important Info:
- Earned a 2.0 cumulative GPA and be enrolled in a WKU in Owensboro degree program
- Deadline is August 1 for Fall & November 15 for Spring
- Essay & paper application required
This scholarship was created for students who have financial need, but may not qualify for other means of aid.
Requirements/Important Info:
- Registered for at least six (6) semester hours at WKU in Owensboro & have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Demonstrate outstanding citizenship qualities & submit the required essay
- Have a FAFSA on file
- Spring portion of the award is dependent upon the successful completion of the fall semester
Requirements/Important Info:
- Registered for at least six (6) semester hours at WKU in Owensboro & have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Demonstrate outstanding citizenship qualities & submit the required essay
- Have a FAFSA on file
- Spring portion of the award is dependent upon successful completion of the fall semester
Requirements/Important Info:
- Full-time undergraduate or graduate student at WKU in Owensboro
- GPA of 3.0 and have demonstrated outstanding citizenship qualities
- Each scholarship may be renewed one (1) time if the student continues to meet the criteria for the scholarship
- Submit a required essay
- Have a FAFSA on file
Requirements/Important Info:
- Only available to sophomores & juniors
- Registered for at least six (6) semester hours at WKU in Owensboro & have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Demonstrate outstanding citizenship qualities
- Have a FAFSA on file
- Submit a required essay
*In order to be considered for Owensboro and Returning Student University Scholarships, students will need to apply online through the WKU TOPDollar scholarship portal. Only applications submitted electronically through TOPDollar will be considered for awards. This new streamlined process will allow students a faster application time and more scholarship matching opportunities. For questions regarding TOPDollar, please email our scholarships office directly at scholarships@wku.edu.
Questions? Contact WKU in Owensboro at (270) 684-9797!
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