BEACON™ Initiatives
Financial Assistance Home
spacerspacerspacerspacer

Known as the “School of Opportunity,” Eastern Kentucky University has always been a leader in helping deserving students reach their goal of earning a college degree. With a service region comprised of some of the poorest counties in the country, Eastern makes need-based financial assistance a budgetary priority. Education is light and hope to those striving for a more fulfilling way of life. What is the cost of providing financial aid to students in need? How does one calculate the worth of a student whose passion and desire could produce the cure for a deadly disease or develop an energy alternative? The students who will pioneer the next generation are knocking on our door and Eastern Kentucky University’s BEACON Program is designed to ensure a place for them.

EKU REGIONAL SCHOLARS:

Regional Scholars are undergraduate, full-time, first-year, Kentucky resident students who reside in one of the 22 counties located in EKU’s primary service region. In accordance with EKU’s mission and in order to provide assistance to students from these counties, funding will be provided at the level of the in-state undergraduate tuition cost and will be renewable up to 10 consecutive semesters. For 2007-08, EKU will have an investment of $2,611/semester and $5,222/annual.

Qualifications:

  • Graduate from a high school located in one of the 22 identified counties in EKU’s primary service region
  • Must have a Median Household Income of $30,000 or less
  • Must have an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of $5,000 or less
  • Must have completed the Kentucky Pre-College Curriculum requirements in high school
  • Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25
  • Receive Full Admission status to EKU

Requirements:

  • Must complete a FAFSA
  • Must maintain a GPA of at least 2.75
  • Remain a full-time student in good standing with satisfactory academic progress
  • Maintain required minimum eligibility for all awarded federal, state and institutional grants

BEACON SCHOLARS:

BEACON Scholars are undergraduate, full-time, first-year Kentucky residents who reside in EKU’s primary service region. EKU will have 22 BEACON Scholars, one from each of the counties in the service region. BEACON Scholars will have demonstrated excellence in their high school curriculum and will have chosen to study in the fields of mathematics and/or science. These students will be provided tuition, room, board and books, and the award will be renewable up to 8 consecutive semesters. For 2007-08, EKU will have an estimated annual investment of $11,600 per scholar.

EKU’s Service Region
Counties Include:
Bell Boyle Casey Clay
Estill Garrard Harlan Jackson
Knox Laurel Lee Leslie
Lincoln Madison McCreary Owsley
Perry Powell Pulaski Rockcastle
Wayne Whitley    

Qualifications:

  • Graduate from a high school located in one of the 22 identified counties in EKU’s primary service region
  • Must have completed the Kentucky Pre-College Curriculum requirements in high school
  • Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.75
  • Receive Full Admission status to EKU

Requirements:

  • Must complete a FAFSA
  • Declare and maintain a major in a math or science discipline
  • Must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.5, including a 3.5 within their major
  • Remain a full-time student in good standing with satisfactory academic progress
  • Maintain required minimum eligibility for all awarded federal, state and institutional grants

SCHOLASTIC OPPORTUNITY GRANT:

Scholastic Opportunity scholars are undergraduate, full-time, first-year students whose
family income falls at 150% or below the national poverty level. The grant amount will provide
the differential between the direct costs of attendance (tuition, room, board, and books) and
federal, state and institutional grants. This cost differential is estimated to be $1,500 and will be
renewable up to 10 consecutive semesters. For 2007-08, EKU will have an investment of
$750/semester and $1,500/annual.

Qualifications:

  • Must be Pell eligible

Requirements:

  • Must complete a FAFSA
  • Must maintain a GPA of 2.5
  • Remain a full-time student in good standing with satisfactory academic progress
  • Maintain required minimum eligibility for all awarded federal, state and institutional grants

TRANSFER SCHOLARS:

KCTCS students are eligible for a new scholarship beginning in spring 2006. Each grant is valued at half the in-state undergraduate
tuition rate and will be renewable for up to six consecutive semesters. For 2007-08, EKU will have an investment of $1,305/
semester and $2,611/annual.

Qualifications:

  • Transfer from a KCTCS institution
  • Have completed a total of at least 24 hours of course work at a KCTCS institution
  • Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on all postsecondary work at the time of transfer

Requirements:

  • Must complete a FAFSA
  • Must maintain a GPA of 2.5
  • Remain a full-time student in good standing with satisfactory academic progress
  • Maintain required minimum eligibility for all awarded federal, state and institutional grants

COVER TO COVER:

The Cover to Cover program is aimed at undergraduate, full-time, first-year Kentucky residents. The intent of this program is to provide assistance in obtaining textbooks for those students who will not receive textbook assistance through the Scholastic Opportunity Grant but who have demonstrated financial need. Experience indicates that students with Estimated Family Contributions just above the level for Pell eligibility have difficulty in affording textbooks. These students will be provided the cost of books up to $400 a semester renewable for up to 10 consecutive semesters. For 2007-08, EKU will have an investment of $400/semester and $800/annual.

Qualifications:

  • Demonstrate an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) above 150% of the poverty level and $5,000 or less

Requirements:

  • Must complete a FAFSA
  • Remain a full-time student in good standing with satisfactory academic progress
  • Maintain required minimum eligibility for all awarded federal, state and institutional grants

SUMMARY OF AWARDS AND TOTAL COSTS:
 
Aid Type 2007-08 Awards 2007-08 Cost 2010-11 Awards 2010-11 Cost
EKU Regional Scholars 375 $990,000 $1,500 $3,960,000
BEACON Scholars 22 $255,000 88 $1,020,000
Scholastic Opportunity Grant 500 $750,000 2,000 $3,000,000
Transfer Scholars 200 $520,000 350 $910,000
Cover to Cover 300 $240,000 1,200 $960,000
Total 1,397 $2,755,000 5,138 $9,850,000