Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship
Returning to school while working or supporting a family means weighing tuition, schedules, and the prospect of employment after graduation. Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship targets residents pursuing a certificate, diploma, or Associate of Applied Science in fields the state identifies as priorities. For 2026–27, KHEAA lists construction, education, healthcare, manufacturing and logistics, and professional, scientific, and technical services; students should check the approve
About Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship
Returning to school while working or supporting a family means weighing tuition, schedules, and the prospect of employment after graduation. Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship targets residents pursuing a certificate, diploma, or Associate of Applied Science in fields the state identifies as priorities. For 2026–27, KHEAA lists construction, education, healthcare, manufacturing and logistics, and professional, scientific, and technical services; students should check the approved-program list by school and course of study.
The award works as last-dollar aid: eligible federal and state grants and scholarships are applied first, and Work Ready covers the remaining eligible tuition and fees within program limits. KHEAA caps the award at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System in-state tuition and fee rate; the fee portion cannot exceed $400 per year. It does not promise to pay housing, transportation, books, or every campus charge.
Applicants must live in Kentucky, be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, have completed high school or be in a GED pathway, and not already hold an associate degree or higher. They must enroll in an approved program and meet the institution’s satisfactory-academic-progress rules. Eligibility ends after 60 funded credit hours or the first associate degree, whichever comes first; enrollment in an ineligible college-degree program can disqualify a student.
Applicants must live in Kentucky, be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, have completed high school or be in a GED pathway, and not already hold an associate degree or higher. They must enroll in an approved program and meet the institution’s satisfactory-academic-progress rules. Eligibility ends after 60 funded credit hours or the first associate degree, whichever comes first; enrollment in an ineligible college-degree program can disqualify a student.
To estimate the real cost, ask the institution for a written breakdown of tuition, fees, housing, and expenses the award does not cover. Confirm renewal, academic-progress rules, and when funds are credited. Keep the award letter and application receipts.
College scholarship and financial-aid program