The Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program (GSP) is a prestigious, free five-week summer residential program for outstanding high school juniors who are rising seniors. Established in 1983, the program aims to develop Kentucky’s next generation of civic and economic leaders through intellectual growth, personal development, and community living.

Key Highlights for Families

• Zero Cost: The program is entirely tuition-free, covering all housing, meals, and academic materials for the selected students.

• Massive Scholarship Opportunities: Graduates of the program automatically become eligible for substantial college scholarships—often up to full tuition—at almost every university and college within the state of Kentucky.

• The Campus Experience: Approximately 1,000 students are selected each year and placed across three host campuses: Centre College, Morehead State University, and Murray State University. Students live in dorms and experience authentic college life.

• Learning Without Pressure: Students dive into unique, college-level focus areas ranging from healthcare to historical analysis. Because the program focuses purely on the joy of learning, there are no grades, tests, or academic credits.

• Strict Commitment: To earn the certificate and scholarship perks, scholars must commit to attending the entire five weeks without leaving the campus for outside events.

Application Timeline (Current Cycle)

If your student is currently a high school junior, the application process for the Summer 2027 cohort is active right now:

• September 2026: Application materials are sent to high schools. Students should reach out to their guidance counselors immediately to get started.

• January 15, 2027: Deadline for completed applications to reach the state GSP office (schools usually set their own earlier internal deadlines for screening).

• April 2027: Official acceptance and notification letters are mailed to families.

The Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) is a thrilling, tuition-free three-week summer program for creative high school sophomores and juniors. Think of it as an artistic bootcamp meets a vibrant, collaborative community where you live on a college campus, learn from professional artists, and connect with peers who share your passion.

Why It’s a Game-Changer

• Zero Cost: The entire experience—including tuition, housing, and meals—is 100% free to accepted students.

• 10 Art Forms: You can apply for deep-dive training in Architecture + Design, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Film + Photography, Graphic Design, Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre, Visual Art, or Vocal Music.

• College Scholarships: GSA alumni unlock exclusive, life-changing scholarship opportunities at nearly 30 colleges and universities across Kentucky.

It is a life-changing opportunity to grow your craft, build a lifelong network, and supercharge your future in the arts.

The Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) is an exciting, entirely free three-week summer program designed for high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who want to turn their creative ideas into real businesses. Hosted on a Kentucky college campus, GSE brings together ambitious students from across the state to live, learn, and collaborate in teams.

Instead of sitting through standard lectures, students build physical prototypes, launch actual business models, and wrap up the summer by pitching their concepts to live investors for cash prizes.

Why it matters for students:

• Launch a real business: You get hands-on experience, actual startup tools, and a lifelong network of creative peers and business mentors.

• Earn class credit: Most participants earn high school credits for completing the program.

• Unlock college money: As a GSE alum, you gain exclusive access to millions of dollars in scholarships from Kentucky colleges and universities.

Why parents love it:

• Zero cost: Tuition, housing, and meals are 100% free, ensuring economic background is never a barrier to participation.

• College readiness: Living in a college dorm gives students a head start on independent campus life.

• Future-proof skills: Even if your student doesn't start a company right away, they walk away with high-demand skills like teamwork, public speaking, problem-solving, and financial literacy.