Union Awards More Than $2.1 Million to Knox County Students Through Tuition-Free Pathway
Union Commonwealth University continues to build momentum through its Knox County Pathway initiative, awarding more than $2,180,197 to local students as part of its commitment to making higher education accessible and affordable.
As of April 29, 140 students from Knox Central High School, Barbourville Independent High School, and Lynn Camp High School have been accepted and awarded through the program. Of those, 99 students have signed their award letters and taken the next step toward enrolling at Union this fall. Awards are still ongoing, with additional students expected to be included as the process continues.
The Knox County Pathway model is designed to ensure students can attend Union tuition-free by utilizing a last dollar scholarship approach. This means that all external scholarships, federal aid, and state grants a student receives are first applied toward tuition. Union then covers the remaining balance, eliminating out of pocket tuition costs for eligible students.
James Becknell, Vice President for Undergraduate Enrollment, emphasized the importance of understanding how the model works.
“Our goal is to remove financial barriers so students can focus on their education and future. The Knox County Pathway is structured to maximize every resource available to students, and then Union steps in to cover the rest. This ensures access without creating unnecessary financial strain, while also allowing us to serve as many students as possible in our community.”
To support students through the transition to college, Union hosted its first Knox County Registration Day on March 21. The event saw strong participation, with 68 students attending and securing their class schedules for the Fall 2026 semester.
A second Registration Day is scheduled for May 5, offering another opportunity for accepted students to finalize their plans, meet with faculty and staff, and prepare for a successful start at Union. Six students have already registered for the upcoming session.
Students who have been accepted through the Knox County Pathway are encouraged to attend and complete their enrollment steps.
For more information about the Knox County Registration Day or to register, students and families can contact Savanna Carroll at scarroll@unionky.edu.
