State Financial Aid
State of Arkansas
Scholarship Application Management System (SAMS)
Arkansas residents can apply for all scholarships offered through the Arkansas Division
of Higher Education at sams.adhe.edu.
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship: Arkansas students who meet at least one of the following criteria are eligible to apply:
- ACT composite or superscore of 19 or higher
- High school GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Accuplacer scores with an average of 246 across all three sections
- Classic Learning Test score of 58 or higher
- Diploma of Merit
The application deadline is July 1. Students must apply online at sams.adhe.edu and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov. Applicants are also required to take a placement test; however, a minimum score is not required as long as one of the other eligibility criteria is met.
Award Amounts
| 1st Year | 2nd Year | 3rd Year | 4th Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $4,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 |
Arkansas Teacher Academy Scholarship
This program offers aspiring teachers up to $6,000 towards tuition costs each semester. For every year a student receives the scholarship, the student is required to teach full time in an Arkansas public school. The scholarship will convert into a loan if the service obligation is not fulfilled. Recipients must be an Arkansas resident, accepted into their school’s education program, and maintaining satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of their degree. This scholarship is a last dollar scholarship – it is applied after all other scholarships, and can only be applied to tuition and fee charges.
Governor's Distinguished Scholarships
The Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship is offered to graduating high school seniors who are Arkansas residents who score a minimum composite or superscore of 32 on the ACT and a 3.5 cumulative grade point average. It pays up to $10,000 per year. Applicants must apply by March 1 at sams.adhe.edu.
Arkansas Heroes Scholarship
The Arkansas Heroes Scholarship provides assistance to dependents or spouses of Arkansas who were killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty in military service, or as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, forester, correctional officer, community punishment department, transportation department employee or teacher. It can help cover the unpaid portion of the cost of tuition, mandatory fees and on-campus housing. The payment to private schools will be capped at the highest per hour rate at a public university in the state. The deadline to apply is July 1.
Student Resources Tools Office Location & Hours First Floor of Cone-Bottoms, Suite 130 Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (Summer hours may vary.) Phone: 870.245.5570 Email: [email protected] We are available for phone calls, in person meetings or video calls.
