A Kentucky Wesleyan education offers incredible value—personalized support, small classes, and an academically competitive experience at an affordable cost. Our students are rewarded for their hard work and achievements through generous scholarships and financial aid. At KWC, we make sure your investment in college pays off with lasting value and lifelong opportunity.
First-Year Merit Scholarships
Your success deserves to be recognized and rewarded! Every new undergraduate student, whether from Kentucky or across the globe, is automatically considered for an academic merit scholarship when admitted to Kentucky Wesleyan College. Your award is based on your cumulative high school GPA and reflects the hard work you’ve already done to prepare for college.
If your GPA improves after your 7th or 8th semester, send your updated transcript to your admissions counselor for a possible scholarship upgrade.
These scholarships apply toward tuition for up to eight semesters in a full-time undergraduate program (12 or more credit hours each semester). Scholarship amounts and GPA requirements may change over time.
To keep your scholarship, you’ll need to maintain satisfactory academic progress and meet any GPA standards tied to your award—but don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of support to help you stay on track.
And remember, scholarships from KWC are just the beginning. Explore outside scholarship and grant opportunities to help make your college investment even more affordable.
Winchester Scholarship
$20,000 per year ($80,000 over four years)
Eligibility: High School Cumulative GPA 3.8 or greater will be invited to possibly earn a full-tuition scholarship. Student must maintain a 2.8 minimum GPA with at least 24 credit hours per year. If grade point average is less than 2.8, the scholarship will be reduced by 25%. If grade point average is less than 2.0, the scholarship will be reduced by half.
Millersburg Scholarship
$17,500 per year ($70,000 over four years)
Eligibility: High School Cumulative GPA 3.8 or greater will be invited to possibly earn a full-tuition scholarship. Student must maintain a 2.8 minimum GPA with at least 24 credit hours per year. If grade point average is less than 2.8, the scholarship will be reduced by 25%. If grade point average is less than 2.0, the scholarship will be reduced by half.
Trustees Scholarship
$15,000 per year ($60,000 over four years)
Eligibility: High School Cumulative GPA 3.4 to 3.59. Student must maintain a 2.8 minimum GPA with at least 24 credit hours per year. If grade point average is less than 2.8, the scholarship will be reduced by 25%. If grade point average is less than 2.0, the scholarship will be reduced by half.
Presidential Scholarship
$12,500 per year ($50,000 over four years)
Eligibility: High School Cumulative GPA 3.2 to 3.39. Student must maintain a 2.8 minimum GPA with at least 24 credit hours per year. If grade point average is less than 2.8, the scholarship will be reduced by 25%. If grade point average is less than 2.0, the scholarship will be reduced by half.
Deans Scholarship
$10,000 per year ($40,000 over four years)
Eligibility: High School Cumulative GPA 3.0 to 3.19. Student must maintain a 2.8 minimum GPA with at least 24 credit hours per year. If grade point average is less than 2.8, the scholarship will be reduced by 25%. If grade point average is less than 2.0, the scholarship will be reduced by half.
Founders Scholarship
$8,000 per year ($32,000 over four years)
Eligibility: High School Cumulative GPA 2.6 to 2.99. Student must maintain a 2.58 minimum GPA with at least 24 credit hours per year. If grade point average is less than 2.5, the scholarship will be reduced by 25%. If grade point average is less than 2.0, the scholarship will be reduced by half.
Wesleyan Scholarship
$6,000 per year ($24,000 over four years)
Eligibility: High School Cumulative GPA 2.59 or less. Student must maintain a 2.5 minimum GPA with at least 24 credit hours per year. If grade point average is less than 2.5, the scholarship will be reduced by 25%. If grade point average is less than 2.0, the scholarship will be reduced by half.
James Graham Brown Scholarship
$34,510 per year ($132,720 over four years) – Full Tuition
Eligibility: Invitation only, deadline is December 1. Students who are Winchester Scholarship recipients will be invited to compete for a full-tuition scholarship. Students must maintain a 3.00 minimum GPA with at least 24 credit hours per year. If grade point average is less than 3.0, the scholarship will be reduced by 25%. If grade point average is less than a 2.5, the scholarship will be reduced by half. If grade point average is less than 2.0, the scholarship is rescinded. Students receiving this full-tuition scholarship are not eligible for additional KWC scholarships/awards.
Additional First-Year Scholarships
Athletic Scholarship
Vary in amount but do not exceed the total of direct costs
Eligibility: Determined by each Coach in his/her sport
Apply: No application necessary. Coaches award these.
Departmental Scholarships
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Awarded in the areas of art, band, education, campus ministries, music, and theatre.
Apply: No application is needed. Students are awarded based on meeting any scholarship criteria.
Campus Ministries Leadership Scholarship
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: A renewable scholarship available to eligible faith-based students who have an interest in serving in a leadership role in campus ministries. Award amounts may vary.
Apply: Interested persons should contact the Director of Spiritual Life, Anna Crasher ’18 at anna.crasher@kwc.edu or by calling 270-315-1416.
Kavanaugh Scholarship
Up to $5,000 per year (up to $20,000 over four years)
Eligibility: Must be a member of a United Methodist congregation and have a High School Cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 with an involvement expectation with campus ministries. Students must maintain a 2.5 minimum GPA with at least 24 credit hours per year. If grade point average is less than 2.5, the scholarship will be reduced by half. If grade point average is less than 2.0 the scholarship will be rescinded.
Apply: Interested persons should contact the Director of Spiritual Life, Anna Crasher ’18 at anna.crasher@kwc.edu or by calling 270-315-1416.
The Kavanaugh Scholarship, named for the first Kentucky-born Methodist bishop in the Commonwealth, H. H. Kavanaugh, and is a renewable scholarship to eligible students who are members of a United Methodist congregation. Bishop Kavanaugh presided over the laying of the cornerstone of first building of Kentucky Wesleyan College in February 1858.
United Methodist Minister’s Dependent Scholarship
Up to half of tuition (up to half the cost of tuition after all other scholarships and awards are applied)
Eligibility: Must be a dependent of an ordained United Methodist minister as verified by a copy of the parent’s ordination certificate.
Apply: Provide verification to the Office of Financial Aid.
KWC Grant
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Students who have filed a FAFSA and listed KWC will be considered for institutional need-based funds. These dollar amounts vary and are based on a family’s income/assets and ability to pay as indicated by the FAFSA and calculated by KWC.
Apply: No application necessary. These are awarded based on eligibility.
Legacy Scholarship
$2,500 per year (up to $10,000 over four years)
Eligibility: Awarded to students who are the children or grandchildren of Kentucky Wesleyan College alumni. Also awarded to students who have a sibling currently attending.
Apply: No application necessary. These are awarded based on meeting the criteria.
Pyles Scholarship Fund
Minimum of $4,000 per year (minimum of $16,000 over four years)
Eligibility: For students entering the Teacher Education Program at KWC with at least a High School Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
Apply: No application necessary.
Maintaining the Scholarship: Must maintain standards of the Teacher Education program including C or higher in all Education and support courses and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and in all Teacher Education core/major areas.
The Pyles Scholarships are made possible through the generosity of Luellen Pyles, a 1944 graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan, who taught English and Spanish in Ohio and Kentucky public schools from 1944 – 1953. Pyles, a Maysville, KY resident, was a longtime college trustee whose bequest of over $4 million is one of the largest estate gifts in the College’s history.
Terry Woodward Scholarship
$1,250 per year (up to $5,000 over four years)
Apply: No application necessary.
Eligibility: Students must be in the major of accounting, business administration, economics, or computer information systems, and must remain in one of those majors to continue receiving the scholarship each year.
In January of 2000, the employees of Wax Works, Inc. established a special scholarship to honor their CEO, Mr. Terry Woodward. As a result, we award this scholarship to a first-time first-year student majoring in a program offered in the Department of Accounting, Business Administration, Economics and Computer Information Systems.
Robert C. Dalzell Endowed Medical Scholarship
Award amounts vary
Apply: No application necessary.
Criteria: For first-year pre-med students with B average from high school majoring in biology or chemistry. Given to the same student each year starting in their sophomore year until he/she graduates.
Music Endowed Scholarship
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Students must be first-year students or first-year transfer students pursuing a degree in music or a related discipline. They must already be admitted into the entering class at Kentucky Wesleyan College, enrolled full-time, have a high-school or previous college cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and have unmet financial needs.
Apply: No application necessary.
Scholarship Length: This is a one-time scholarship awarded for a student’s first year only and not renewable.
The Holley Skidmore Family Foundation Scholarship
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Awarded to an incoming, full-time enrolled student who demonstrates need and completes the required scholarship.
Apply: No application necessary.
Mr. Skidmore ’31 was a loyal alum of Kentucky Wesleyan College and endowed a scholarship for students to attend Wesleyan and have a life-changing experience just as he had.
Kentucky Teacher Scholarship/Loan
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: A need-based state assistance program. FAFSA and Teacher Scholarship application are required. Full-time enrollment is required with possible exception for final term.
Apply: Deadline is May 1. Contact the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority for complete details and an application. (1-800-928-8926)
If teaching obligation is not met, recipients must repay the scholarship with 12 percent interest that accrues from the date of disbursement of each Teacher Scholarship. Contact the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority for complete details. (1-800-928-8926).
United Methodist Scholarships
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Must be a member of the United Methodist Church and requires a letter from your minister/pastor verifying membership.
Apply: Provide verification to the Office of Financial Aid.
For additional scholarship opportunities for United Methodist students, please visit www.gbhem.org and www.umhef.org.
Independence Bank Scholarship Program
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: All scholarship applications will be judged on high school grades to date, ACT scores, extracurricular activity and community involvement, scholarship essays and financial need.
Independence Bank awards over 50 scholarships totaling over $90,000 to area high school seniors. Seniors who wish to apply need to either attend high school or live in one of the following counties: Calloway, Daviess, Franklin, Graves, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, Jefferson, McCracken, McLean, Warren, Webster.
Apply to the Independence Bank Scholarship Program
KY Army National Guard
Award amounts vary
Kentucky Wesleyan College and the Kentucky Army National Guard have entered into a significant cooperative to benefit students with state tuition assistance provided by the National Guard with the remainder provided by KWC. If you are currently in the KY Army National Guard or plan to be, contact your Guard recruiter for all the details.
Veterans Benefits
Award amounts vary
Kentucky Wesleyan College is a Yellow Ribbon school. To apply for veteran educational benefits, please visit www.gibill.va.gov.
Tuition Remission Program
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Dependents and spouses of full-time or part-time Kentucky Wesleyan College faculty and staff may receive tuition remission for up to 100 percent of the cost of tuition after one year of full-time, continuous service. This will replace all other KWC scholarships awarded since it is full-tuition, and the total dollar amount of all scholarships combined cannot exceed the total amount of direct KWC costs. However, outside scholarships can be applied toward room and meal plans.
An institutional non-need-based program designed to pay part or all the cost of tuition for qualifying students. Additional information found in the KWC employee/staff handbook.
CIC Tuition Exchange Program
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Dependents and spouses of full-time or part-time Kentucky Wesleyan College faculty and staff and CIC member institutions may receive tuition remission for up to 100 percent of the cost of tuition after one year of full-time service. This will replace all other KWC scholarships awarded since it is full-tuition and the total dollar amount of all scholarships combined cannot exceed the total amount of direct KWC costs. However, outside scholarships can be applied toward room and meal plans.
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is a non-profit organization. Kentucky Wesleyan has been a member since 1975. The purpose of the CIC Tuition Exchange is to benefit the children of faculty and staff at member colleges and universities across the country by offering tuition scholarships. The college is also a member of the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange program. Additional information is available from the KWC Provost’s office.
Transfer Merit Scholarships
At Kentucky Wesleyan College, we believe your hard work should be rewarded. Every new transfer student—domestic or international—is automatically considered for a merit scholarship when admitted to KWC. Your award is based on your college GPA, recognizing the effort you’ve already put into your education.
If your GPA improves after your final semester, simply send your updated transcript to your admissions counselor. You may qualify for an upgraded scholarship.
These scholarships are applied toward tuition for up to eight semesters in a full-time undergraduate program (12 or more credit hours each semester). Scholarship amounts and GPA requirements may change over time.
To keep your scholarship, stay on track academically and continue making strong progress toward your degree. We’ll be here to support you every step of the way.
Distinguished Scholarship
$15,000 per year
Eligibility: College Cumulative GPA 3.5 or higher
Honors Scholarship
$12,500 per year
Eligibility: College Cumulative GPA 3.0 to 3.49
Directors Scholarship
$10,000 per year
Eligibility: College Cumulative GPA 2.5 to 2.99
Ambassador Scholarship
$8,000 per year
Eligibility: College Cumulative GPA 2.0 to 2.49
Achiever Scholarship
$7,000 per year
Eligibility: College Cumulative GPA 1.99 or lower
Additional Transfer Scholarships
Athletic Scholarship
Vary in amount but do not exceed the total of direct costs
Eligibility: Determined by each Coach in his/her sport
Apply: No application necessary. Coaches award these.
Kentucky Community and Technical College System Advantage Scholarship
$5,000 (up to $20,000 over four years)
Eligibility: For transfer students, not receiving athletic aid, most recently attending a KCTCS institution (not Dual Credit)
Apply: No application necessary. Verify with the Office of Financial Aid.
Departmental Scholarships
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Awarded in the areas of art, band, education, campus ministries, music, and theatre.
Apply: No application is needed. Students are awarded based on meeting any scholarship criteria.
Campus Ministries Leadership Scholarship
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: A renewable scholarship available to eligible faith-based students who have an interest in serving in a leadership role in campus ministries. Award amounts may vary.
Apply: Interested persons should contact the Director of Spiritual Life, Anna Crasher ’18 at anna.crasher@kwc.edu or by calling 270-315-1416.
Kavanaugh Scholarship
Up to $5,000 per year (up to $20,000 over four years)
Eligibility: Must be a member of a United Methodist congregation and have a High School Cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 with an involvement expectation with campus ministries. Students must maintain a 2.5 minimum GPA with at least 24 credit hours per year. If grade point average is less than 2.5, the scholarship will be reduced by half. If grade point average is less than 2.0 the scholarship will be rescinded.
Apply: Interested persons should contact the Director of Spiritual Life, Anna Crasher ’18 at anna.crasher@kwc.edu or by calling 270-315-1416.
The Kavanaugh Scholarship, named for the first Kentucky-born Methodist bishop in the Commonwealth, H. H. Kavanaugh, and is a renewable scholarship to eligible students who are members of a United Methodist congregation. Bishop Kavanaugh presided over the laying of the cornerstone of first building of Kentucky Wesleyan College in February 1858.
United Methodist Minister’s Dependent Scholarship
Up to half of tuition (up to half the cost of tuition after all other scholarships and awards are applied)
Eligibility: Must be a dependent of an ordained United Methodist minister as verified by a copy of the parent’s ordination certificate.
Apply: Provide verification to the Office of Financial Aid.
KWC Grant
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Students who have filed a FAFSA and listed KWC will be considered for institutional need-based funds. These dollar amounts vary and are based on a family’s income/assets and ability to pay as indicated by the FAFSA and calculated by KWC.
Apply: No application necessary. These are awarded based on eligibility.
Legacy Scholarship
$2,500 per year (up to $10,000 over four years)
Eligibility: Awarded to students who are the children or grandchildren of Kentucky Wesleyan College alumni. Also awarded to students who have a sibling currently attending.
Apply: No application necessary. These are awarded based on meeting the criteria.
Pyles Scholarship Fund
Minimum of $4,000 per year (minimum of $16,000 over four years)
Eligibility: For students entering the Teacher Education Program at KWC with at least a High School Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
Apply: No application necessary.
Maintaining the Scholarship: Must maintain standards of the Teacher Education program including C or higher in all Education and support courses and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and in all Teacher Education core/major areas.
The Pyles Scholarships are made possible through the generosity of Luellen Pyles, a 1944 graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan, who taught English and Spanish in Ohio and Kentucky public schools from 1944 – 1953. Pyles, a Maysville, KY resident, was a longtime college trustee whose bequest of over $4 million is one of the largest estate gifts in the College’s history.
Terry Woodward Scholarship
$1,250 per year (up to $5,000 over four years)
Apply: No application necessary.
Eligibility: Students must be in the major of accounting, business administration, economics, or computer information systems, and must remain in one of those majors to continue receiving the scholarship each year.
In January of 2000, the employees of Wax Works, Inc. established a special scholarship to honor their CEO, Mr. Terry Woodward. As a result, we award this scholarship to a first-time first-year student majoring in a program offered in the Department of Accounting, Business Administration, Economics and Computer Information Systems.
Music Endowed Scholarship
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Students must be first-year students or first-year transfer students pursuing a degree in music or a related discipline. They must already be admitted into the entering class at Kentucky Wesleyan College, enrolled full-time, have a high-school or previous college cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and have unmet financial needs.
Apply: No application necessary.
Scholarship Length: This is a one-time scholarship awarded for a student’s first year only and not renewable.
Kentucky Teacher Scholarship/Loan
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: A need-based state assistance program. FAFSA and Teacher Scholarship application are required. Full-time enrollment is required with possible exception for final term.
Apply: Deadline is May 1. Contact the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority for complete details and an application. (1-800-928-8926)
If teaching obligation is not met, recipients must repay the scholarship with 12 percent interest that accrues from the date of disbursement of each Teacher Scholarship. Contact the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority for complete details. (1-800-928-8926).
United Methodist Scholarships
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Must be a member of the United Methodist Church and requires a letter from your minister/pastor verifying membership.
Apply: Provide verification to the Office of Financial Aid.
For additional scholarship opportunities for United Methodist students, please visit www.gbhem.org and www.umhef.org.
KY Army National Guard
Award amounts vary
Kentucky Wesleyan College and the Kentucky Army National Guard have entered into a significant cooperative to benefit students with state tuition assistance provided by the National Guard with the remainder provided by KWC. If you are currently in the KY Army National Guard or plan to be, contact your Guard recruiter for all the details.
Veterans Benefits
Award amounts vary
Kentucky Wesleyan College is a Yellow Ribbon school. To apply for veteran educational benefits, please visit www.gibill.va.gov.
Tuition Remission Program
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Dependents and spouses of full-time or part-time Kentucky Wesleyan College faculty and staff may receive tuition remission for up to 100 percent of the cost of tuition after one year of full-time, continuous service. This will replace all other KWC scholarships awarded since it is full-tuition, and the total dollar amount of all scholarships combined cannot exceed the total amount of direct KWC costs. However, outside scholarships can be applied toward room and meal plans.
An institutional non-need-based program designed to pay part or all the cost of tuition for qualifying students. Additional information found in the KWC employee/staff handbook.
CIC Tuition Exchange Program
Award amounts vary
Eligibility: Dependents and spouses of full-time or part-time Kentucky Wesleyan College faculty and staff and CIC member institutions may receive tuition remission for up to 100 percent of the cost of tuition after one year of full-time service. This will replace all other KWC scholarships awarded since it is full-tuition and the total dollar amount of all scholarships combined cannot exceed the total amount of direct KWC costs. However, outside scholarships can be applied toward room and meal plans.
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is a non-profit organization. Kentucky Wesleyan has been a member since 1975. The purpose of the CIC Tuition Exchange is to benefit the children of faculty and staff at member colleges and universities across the country by offering tuition scholarships. The college is also a member of the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange program. Additional information is available from the KWC Provost’s office.