LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville (UofL) is aiming to lower the financial burden of attending college for more Kentucky residents.  

What You Need To Know

  • The University of Louisville (UofL) is expanding its Cardinal Commitment Grant 

  • The university is investing $2.4 million toward the grant in 2024 to decrease the financial burden of attending college 

  • This is designed to increase financial aid for in-state residents while lowering the overall cost of attendance 

  • First-time Kentucky residents who have been accepted to UofL and have demonstrated financial need based on their FAFSA are eligible  

UofL will invest $2.4 million toward its Cardinal Commitment Grant in 2024 as part of the university’s work to help more in-state students graduate college with less student debt. According to the university, the grant will help bridge the gap between eligible students’ financial aid and the cost of attendance, including tuition, dining, books and other expenses.

“We’re always looking for ways to help our local and state-wide community,” President Kim Schatzel said in a news release. “This expanded grant will give more Kentucky residents access to a college degree without the stress of a heavy financial burden and provide an opportunity for them to make an impact on their communities after graduating.”

Elienai Moreno Ramirez, freshman biology major and first-generation student, received the grant this year. She is from Cuba and hopes to attend medical school at UofL after graduating, according to a release. 

“Right off the bat, it was covering so much of my tuition and I thought, ‘This is so great, and it’s renewable, so I don’t even have to worry about applying for it each year. It’s just automatically there,’” Ramirez said in a news release. “Getting this grant was a sign telling me that I could do this; I could afford college and achieve my dreams.”

First-time freshmen Kentucky residents who have been accepted to UofL and have showed financial need based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are eligible for the grant. This can either be full tuition coverage or range from $2,000-$9,000.

The university calculates award amounts based on federal and state need-based grants, Kentucky Education Excellence Scholarship (KEES), university and institutional aid given to each student. Students who continue meeting UofL’s satisfactory academic progress policy can renew the grant; however, it is locked based on the amount offered in a student’s first year at UofL, regardless of changes to their state or federal financial aid. 

To be considered for the grant, eligible students should apply to UofL by May 1. Those interested in more details can visit here. 

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