The Cardinal Commitment Grant is a last-dollar scholarship that pays for the remainder of a student’s UofL tuition after they have received and applied federal and state grant awards and additional institutional aid.

“Kentucky students deserve a high-quality and life-changing education, and the Cardinal Commitment Grant allows us to provide that while eliminating the stress of wondering where the money to pay the bill is coming from,” said interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. “College affordability is a priority for our university and we are continuously looking at ways to increase access to education.”

To be eligible for the Cardinal Commitment Grant, students must be Kentucky residents with at least a 3.25 weighted GPA who are first-year students enrolled full time at UofL for the fall 2022 semester. Students must have filed the 2022-2023 (FAFSA) and be eligible for a Pell Grant.

“We are proud to serve many Pell-eligible and first-generation students,” said interim Provost Gerry Bradley. “The Cardinal Commitment is another chance for us to redefine our students’ success and do our part to improve social mobility.”

The Cardinal Commitment Grant is renewable until a student earns their first bachelor’s degree; however, the initial award amount is locked in for that time frame regardless of changes to state or federal aid.

Eligible students should by May 1 to be automatically considered for the Cardinal Commitment Grant. Additional details on the scholarship are available at .

Last-dollar scholarships are designed to award additional aid to cover the cost of tuition. The award amount is calculated by taking the cost of tuition minus all federal and state grant awards minus all university/institutional aid. The Cardinal Commitment Grant will cover tuition and bundled fees.

Beginning in fall 2018, UofL will add $1.5 million in need-based aid for incoming freshmen. The funding will be used to address unmet need, or the amount between financial aid already received and the actual cost of attendance.

“Most of our students receive some aid but still face financial hardships,” said Jim Begany, vice provost for strategic enrollment management and student success. “This funding will help more students enroll, stay in school and graduate with less debt.”

With the new program, UofL will have increased its student aid for incoming freshmen to more than $9.5 million, including almost 25 percent based solely on need. Overall, the university provides more than $36.5 million in financial aid each year.

In order to fund the need-based aid program, the Credit 4 Credits program will be eliminated.

“The change is about impact,” Begany said. “Our priority is to support as many students as possible, with emphasis on those most at risk of financial hardship. This shift of funding will fill a real need for many of our students.”

During the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion workshops, staff from the university’s student financial aid office will walk student and parent participants through the process of filing the FAFSA. Changes to the FAFSA process, as announced by President Obama last September and in effect beginning with the 2017-18 application, include an earlier filing start date of October 1 (previously January 1); and a requirement to report income and tax information from an earlier tax year. A detailed overview of the changes from the Federal Student Aid office is available .����

The UofL-led workshops are free and students are not required to apply for admission to the university in order to participate. The workshops will take place on:

• Oct. 5, 5–7 p.m., Seneca High School, 3510 Goldsmith Ln., Louisville
• Oct. 6, 6–8 p.m., Oldham County High School, 1150 North Highway 393, Buckner
• Oct. 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Martha Layne Collins High School, 801 Discovery Blvd., Shelbyville
• Oct. 11, 6–8 p.m., Fern Creek High School, 9115 Fern Creek Rd., Louisville
• Oct. 13, 5– 8 p.m., Jeffersontown High School, 9600 Old Six Mile Ln., Louisville
• Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to��noon, during Cardinal Preview Day at the University of Louisville (details follow)
• Oct. 20, 6-8 p.m., Southern High School, 8620 Preston Highway, Louisville

Cardinal Preview Day on Oct. 15 is open to anyone interested in learning more about attending UofL. Activities, including campus tours, workshops, information sessions and student panel discussions, take place from 10 a.m. to��4 p.m. A complete schedule is available . Pre-registration is not required, although participants need to check in at the Swain Student Activities Center (SAC) West Plaza next to the George J. Howe Red Barn upon arrival. There is no cost for Cardinal Preview Day and parking is free at the Floyd Street parking garage, 2126 South Floyd St.��

For more information about the workshops and FAFSA changes, contact Sandra Neel, 502-852-5517, sandra.neel@louisville.edu. Jenny Sawyer, 502-852-4957, jenny.sawyer@louisville.edu, is available to discuss Cardinal Preview Day activities.

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