Kentucky Optometry Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority

Overview

The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) administers a range of state financial aid programs supported in part by Kentucky Lottery proceeds. These funds sustain both need- and merit-based awards, including programs such as KEES, Work Ready Kentucky, and the KHEAA Teacher Scholarship. The Optometry Scholarship program enables eligible Kentucky residents to pursue a Doctor of Optometry degree at participating institutions and commit to providing optometric services to the Commonwealth. This program aligns state funding with workforce needs in eye care and supports students pursuing clinical optometry careers.

• KHEAA administers state financial aid funded in part by the Kentucky Lottery.
• Lottery proceeds support need- and merit-based aid across multiple programs.
• The Optometry Scholarship specifically supports Kentucky residents pursuing optometry degrees.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility is limited to applicants who meet residency, citizenship, enrollment, and financial obligation standards. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and Kentucky residents, and they must be enrolled or accepted into a program that leads to a Doctor of Optometry degree at a participating institution. Applicants must also have no past-due financial obligations to KHEAA or any Title IV program. The application may be submitted before formal acceptance, but acceptance at a participating institution prior to the December deadline is recommended to strengthen the application.

Eligibility: To be considered, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen, a Kentucky resident, enrolled or accepted in a Doctor of Optometry program at a participating institution, and have no past-due obligations to KHEAA or Title IV programs.

• U.S. citizenship and Kentucky residency are required.
• Enrollment or accepted status in an eligible optometry program is required.
• No outstanding financial obligations to KHEAA or Title IV programs are permitted.
• Applicants may apply before acceptance, but acceptance before the December deadline is advised.

Application

Application materials and deadlines are managed on an annual basis with decisions made for each award year. Decisions have been finalized for awards beginning in 2026–2027. The application and instructions for the 2027–2028 award year are now available, and the deadline to apply is in December. Prospective applicants should follow the published instructions and submit all required documents by the stated deadline to be considered.

Application Timeline: Decisions for the 2026–2027 awards are complete; the 2027–2028 application is available and must be submitted by the December deadline.

• Award-year decisions are made on an annual schedule.
• The 2027–2028 application is currently available.
• Applications must be submitted by the December deadline for consideration.

Participating Institutions

Only students attending or accepted to participating optometry programs are eligible for the scholarship. The program maintains a defined list of eligible institutions whose accredited optometry programs qualify for scholarship funding. Applicants should verify program participation before applying to ensure eligibility. Below are the institutions currently eligible for participation in the Optometry Scholarship program.

Participating Institutions: The following colleges and universities are eligible to participate in the Optometry Scholarship program.

• Kentucky College of Optometry
• Indiana University College of Optometry
• Southern College of Optometry
• University of Alabama Birmingham College of Optometry

• Only students at listed institutions are eligible.
• Verify institution participation before completing the application.
• Institution list is maintained by the administering agency and may change over time.