Foster/Adopted Child Tuition Waiver

• The Tuition Waiver for Foster and Adopted Children waives the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for any undergraduate or graduate program of any Kentucky public postsecondary institution, including all four (4) year universities and colleges and institutions of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System who enroll as a full-time or part-time student. The waiver must be used within four years of graduating high school or obtaining the GED. The waiver does not cover books, course fees, housing, or any other charges the student may incur. You are required to complete the FAFSA (include link to FAFSA) and maintain satisfactory academic eligibility.

Eligible students include: 

• Those currently committed to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
• Those who aged out of Kentucky's Foster Care System on or after their 18th birthday.
• Those who were adopted from Kentucky's foster care system.

• Students will be eligible for the waiver for up to 150 credit hours earned (consecutive or

nonconsecutive) or up to 28 years old, whichever comes first.

• To apply complete Section 1 of this tuition waiver application link:  

https://prd.webapps.chfs.ky.gov/kyrise/Content/docs/DPP-333TuitionWaiver.pdf and submit the form via email to ExternalSchol@uky.edu.

• Section 2 of the tuition waiver application will be completed and emailed to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) to verify eligibility. If CHFS confirms you are eligible and you are enrolled in classes, the tuition waiver will be added to your UK student account. If CHFS confirms you are not eligible they will send you an email with an explanation and the right to appeal.

• This waiver cannot be used concurrently with any other tuition waivers, which includes but not limited to institutional awards, scholarships and other state mandated, University funded waivers.

Police, Firefighter or Participant in State Retirement System Tuition Waiver

KRS 164.2841

• Any person whose parent or any nonmarried widow or widower whose spouse was a resident of the Commonwealth of Kentucky upon becoming a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or volunteer firefighter and who was killed while in active service or training for active service or who died because of a service-connected disability shall receive free tuition to any state supported university, community college, or vocational training institution. This shall apply to any firefighter or volunteer firefighter who is killed or dies under the conditions listed above on July 1, 1989, or thereafter. Or was an employee participating in a state-administered retirement system, and not otherwise covered by the above, and who died because of a duty-related injury as described in KRS 61.621 shall receive full tuition upon admission to any state supported university, community college, or vocational training institution.

• To obtain the benefit the student should provide the University of Kentucky a copy of the birth certificate or legal adoption papers that shows the parent-child relationship. A marriage certificate is required for determining the spousal relationship. The documentation should be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, 128 Funkhouser Building, Lexington, KY 40506-0054.

• The parent's or spouse's service and the cause of death shall be evidenced by certification from the records of the Kentucky Justice Cabinet, the appropriate city or county law enforcement agency which employed the deceased, the administrative agency for the fire department or fire protection district recognized for funding under KRS 95A.262, or the administrative agency having jurisdiction over any paid firefighters of all counties and cities of all classes. The letter should be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, 128 Funkhouser Building, Lexington, KY 40506-0054.

• This waiver cannot be used concurrently with any other tuition waivers, which includes but not limited to institutional awards, scholarships and other state mandated, University funded waivers.

KRS 164.2842

• Provides free tuition at state-supported school for survivor of police officer, firefighter, or volunteer firefighter permanently and totally disabled in line of duty or who was an employee participating in a state-administered retirement system and who was disabled because of a duty-related injury. The waiver provides free tuition at state-supported school for survivor of other state administered retirement system participants disabled as a request of duty related injury.

• The child must be over age 17 and under age 23, or the spouse, regardless of age is eligible for free tuition for up to 36 months.

• To obtain the benefit the student should provide the University of Kentucky a copy of the birth certificate or legal adoption papers that shows the parent-child relationship. A marriage certificate is required for determining the spousal relationship. The documentation should be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, 128 Funkhouser Building, Lexington, KY 40506-0054.

• A letter certifying permanent and total disability is required. The letter should be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, 128 Funkhouser Building, Lexington, KY 40506-0054.

• This waiver cannot be used concurrently with any other tuition waivers, which includes but not limited to institutional awards, scholarships and other state mandated, University funded waivers.

Post-Secondary Tuition Waiver –Tuition Waivers for Employees and Faculty of State and Locally Operated Secondary Area Technology Centers (ATC)

With the passage of HB 592 by the General Assembly, effective for Fall of 2019, Kentucky’s public post-secondary institutions are no longer legally required to waive up to 6 hours of tuition for regular, full-time employees of other Kentucky institutions except secondary Area Technology Centers. 

Applicants should obtain a Tuition Waiver Form from their school’s business or human resources office to begin the application process, obtain the appropriate signatures, and submit it via email to ExternalSchol@uky.edu.

Criteria:

• Full-time employees of ATC who are certified to teach ‘occupation-based’ curriculum are eligible for up to 6 credit hours of tuition only per semester
• Maximum of 24 credit hours per academic year
• Online tuition can be covered
• The benefit is limited to undergraduate or graduate courses
• Doctoral courses do not qualify
• Recipients must maintain a 2.0 GPA
• Recipients must complete a FAFSA to determine aid eligibility
• Waiver amount shall not exceed the cost of tuition less any state or federal grants