Optometry Scholarship
Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA)
$15,000 per recipient (2026-27) for Kentucky residents earning a Doctor of Optometry at a participating school.
- How much
- $15,000 per recipient (2026-27; varies yearly with funding)
- Who qualifies
- Kentucky resident; enrolled or accepted (you may apply before acceptance) in a Doctor of Optometry program at a participating institution; no past-due KHEAA/Title IV obligation.
- For grad students
- For optometry students
- U.S. citizen
- When to apply
- Open now · due December 1, 2026 Annual; application for the following year due December 1.
- How to apply
- Download the 2027-28 Optometry Scholarship application, gather Kentucky residency documents and official undergraduate transcripts, and upload everything through MyKHEAA by December 1, 2026
- Apply to a participating school first if possible
- What you'll need
- state application + transcript
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (kheaa.com) and page 2
The details
For Kentucky residents enrolled or accepted at a participating optometry school: Kentucky College of Optometry, Indiana University College of Optometry, Southern College of Optometry, or University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Optometry. The amount varies yearly with funding; for 2026-27 it is $15,000 per recipient. Recipients are selected by the Optometry Scholarship Committee; by statute at least one-third of funds go to students at the in-state school.
More money from Kentucky
- College Access Program (CAP) GrantUp to $2,500 at a two-year institution; up to $5,300 at a four-year institution (2026-27)
- Kentucky Tuition Grant (KTG)Up to $3,300 for the 2026-27 academic year
- Early Graduation Scholarship CertificateOne-half of the state portion of the average per-pupil SEEK base guarantee for the graduation year (one-time)
- Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES)Varies: $187-$500 per year of college for each high school year with a 2.75+ GPA, plus ACT/SAT bonus up to $500 and AP/IB/CAI supplements of $200-$300 per qualifying score (free/reduced lunch students)
- Tuition Waiver for Kentuckians 65 and OlderAll tuition and fees waived
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.