For Students

Helpful College-Going Resources

Continuing your education after high school has many benefits – including better employment opportunities and a higher earning potential. Your options for education after high school – also known as postsecondary education – include short-term certification/credential programs as well as two-year and four-year degree programs.

When we say “college” on this page, we are referring to all postsecondary education options.

Why Go to College

A college credential - whether a certificate in a trade or a degree - puts you in control of your future by giving you the knowledge skills to pursue a career that interests and inspires you. When you have the freedom to choose your career, you're more likely to enjoy it. Still not sure? Check out the Council's page about Why Kentucky Higher Education Matters.

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How to Choose Where to Go and What to Study

Choosing a College

• 10 Things to Consider When Choosing a College
  In this video from KHEAA, you’ll be walked through college choice considerations, such as size and location, available academic programs, and more, that can help you find the right fit.
• Finding Your College Fit
  This CollegeBoard BigFuture resource page provides a deeper dive into how to find the right college for you.
• College Scorecard
  The U.S. Department of Education Scorecard allows you to search and compare colleges by their fields of study, costs, admissions, results and more.
• Ensuring a Reputable College, Credits and Degree
  Many fake schools have websites that look like those of well-known schools. This resource page can help you ensure that you are choosing a reputable, accredited college.

Choosing a Major

• Kentucky Students’ Right to Know Dashboard
  This dashboard links college majors to the most in-demand jobs in Kentucky; it also provides information about typical education requirements, wages and institutions offering these majors.
• 10 Things to Know About Choosing a College Major
  This piece from U.S. News & World Report shares expert advice on what students should consider when choosing a major and other major-related information.
• Choosing Your College Major: Real Advice from a Real College Counselor
  This video explores: how to narrow down majors that are right for you; questions to ask yourself when trying to choose a major; how double majors and minors work; and the importance of working backwards in order to reach your education and career goals.
• How to Choose a Major
  This video discusses what majors are, how to choose one, and how to know if you should consider changing your major.

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How to Go to College

Getting Started

• I’ve Decided to Go to College – Now What?
  So, you’ve decided to go to college – congratulations! This brief video from KHEAA outlines next steps to be taken once the decision to attend college is made.

How to Apply

• Exploring and Applying to Kentucky’s Public Postsecondary Institutions
  This resource provides links to schedule campus visits, admissions applications and counselors, scholarships and financial aid, and explore academic programs for all of Kentucky’s public postsecondary institutions.
• College Applications 101
  This KHEAA-produced video provides an overview of the college application process, including researching colleges’ admissions/application requirements, providing transcripts and meeting deadlines.

How to Stay on Schedule

• Preparing for College Admissions Timeline
  It’s never too early to start preparing for college admissions! This timeline walks you through what preparatory steps you should take throughout your high school career – and when you should take them.

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How to Get College Credit in High School

• Dual Credit
  In dual credit, a student is enrolled in a course that allows them to earn high school credit and college credit simultaneously. Click the link above to access KDE’s most up-to-date info on dual credit.

• Advanced Placement (AP)
  Students taking an AP course have the opportunity to take an end-of-course exam and, based on their numerical score, may be awarded college credit for the course. Click the link above to access KDE’s most up-to-date info on AP.

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How to Pay for College

For an overview of affordability options available, view the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority's "Paying for College 101" webinar.

• Paying for College 101 (English)
• Paying for College 101 (Spanish)

Completing the FAFSA

• 2023-24 FAFSA Line-by-Line Walkthrough
  Need help completing the FAFSA? This video from KHEAA walks you through filling it out line by line.

• 2023-24 KHEAA FAFSA Completion Guide
  This helpful guide created by KHEAA helps you identify what information you will need to complete the FAFSA, as well as help you answer questions about dependency, which parent’s information to use, and how to transfer tax information into your FAFSA.

• FAFSA Fast Facts 
  This short video from KHEAA provides a quick overview that answers many frequently asked questions about the FAFSA.

• Conquering the FAFSA and College Apps
  This KHEAA webinar tells you everything you need to know about college apps and the FAFSA – the who, what, when, where, why and how. 

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Once you complete the FAFSA, you can enter to win a $500 FAFSA Completion Scholarship from KHEAA.

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Earn Micro-Scholarships for Activities & Accomplishments

• RaiseMe
  Students can sign up for free to earn micro-scholarships at participating colleges and universities. You can earn free money for college for doing things like having good attendance, taking an honors course, participating in extracurricular activities and more!

Financial Aid

• Four Kinds of Financial Aid – and a Bonus
  This video from KHEAA provides an overview on the four kinds of financial aid – grants, scholarships, work study and loans – plus a bonus type of financial aid.

• Getting the Facts College Comparison Tool
  By registering for a free MyKHEAA account and creating a profile, you’ll get access to a free college planning tool that will give you a personalized breakdown of college costs and estimated financial aid at multiple colleges.

Grants

• Grant Overview & Two Kentucky Grants (CAP & KTG)
  In this video, KHEAA provides an overview of what grants are, as well as details about two Kentucky grants, CAP (College Access Program) and KTG (Kentucky Tuition Grant).

Scholarships

KEES (Kentucky Educational and Excellence Scholarship)

• KEES brochure
  This KHEAA-produced brochure outlines what KEES is and shows you how you can turn good grades into money for college.

• What is KEES Money?
  This video from KHEAA explores what KEES is, how you earn KEES money and how you can use your KEES money.

• Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship
  This website tells you everything you need to know about the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship, including how to apply, available programs of study and college contact info.

Scholarship Search Engines

• https://www.fastweb.com/
• https://www.scholarships.com/
• https://www.collegeboard.org/

Loans

• Federal Student Loans
  Review this information from Federal Student Aid to learn more about the types of federal student loans available, how you get federal student loans and what you should consider before taking out these loans.

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Need Help Navigating the College-Going Process?

They can help:

• KHEAA Outreach Counselors
• Kentucky Campus Compact College Coaches
• GEAR UP Kentucky (GU schools in Northern and Central Kentucky)
• Partners for Rural Impact 
• West Kentucky GEAR UP (GU schools in Western Kentucky)