Tuition Waiver for Dependents of State Retirement System Employees Killed or Disabled on Duty
Commonwealth of Kentucky (KRS 164.2841(2) / 164.2842(2)), granted by public colleges
Free tuition at Kentucky public colleges for children and spouses of state-retirement-system employees who died or were disabled from a duty-related injury.
- How much
- Full tuition and matriculation fees at Kentucky public colleges
- Who qualifies
- Child or spouse of a Kentucky state-administered retirement system member who died or was disabled from a duty-related injury
- For disability waivers, children must be over 17 and under 23.
- For students starting college, undergrads, grad students, trade school students
- When to apply
- Apply any time No statewide deadline; varies by institution.
- How to apply
- Contact the financial aid office of the Kentucky public college before enrolling, with proof of relationship and certification of the employee's service and that the death or disability was duty-related
- What you'll need
- See how to apply
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (apps.legislature.ky.gov), page 2 and page 3
The details
KRS 164.2841(2): children and un-remarried surviving spouses of an employee participating in a state-administered retirement system who died from a duty-related injury (KRS 61.621) pay no matriculation or tuition fees at state-supported universities, community colleges or vocational schools. KRS 164.2842(2): the spouse (any age) or child aged 17-22 of such an employee disabled by a duty-related injury gets the same waiver (AHE 2027: up to 36 months; marriage of an eligible child does not end eligibility).
More money from Kentucky
- Optometry Scholarship$15,000 per recipient (2026-27; varies yearly with funding)
- 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)
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
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