What Arkansas Offers for College—And How to Qualify

Arkansas families actually have more help than most people realize. From scholarships to grants that fill in the gaps, the state offers real programs to make college affordable. The key is knowing what’s available—and applying on time.

💡 Most Arkansas aid runs through one portal: the YOUniversal Scholarship Application. File your FAFSA first, then apply through YOUniversal to access almost all state programs.

🎓 Step 1: Know What Arkansas Offers

✔️ Academic Challenge Scholarship – Arkansas’s largest scholarship program. Awarded based on ACT scores (or equivalent). Worth up to $14,000 total over 4 years. Available to both traditional and non-traditional students.
✔️ Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship – For high-achieving students (32+ ACT and 3.5+ GPA). Offers up to $10,000 per year. Very competitive.
✔️ Arkansas Future Grant (ArFuture) – Covers tuition and fees for students in 2-year or technical programs. It’s a last-dollar grant—meaning it fills in the gaps after Pell or other aid. To stay eligible, students must agree to work in Arkansas for a set period after graduation.
✔️ Law Enforcement Officers’ Dependents Scholarship – Covers full tuition, fees, and on-campus room and board for dependents of officers who were killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.
✔️ Military Dependents Scholarship – Helps pay for tuition, fees, and books at any Arkansas public institution for children or spouses of disabled/killed veterans.

📝 Step 2: File the FAFSA + Apply Through YOUniversal

To get almost any Arkansas state aid, your kid needs two things:

✔️ FAFSA – Opens October 1. Needed for both need-based and merit aid.
✔️ YOUniversal App – The statewide portal for all major Arkansas scholarships and grants.

The YOUniversal portal opens October 1. It covers most state scholarships and lets you track everything—from application status to award letters—all in one place.

➤ Start your YOUniversal application here

FAFSA opens: October 1
YOUniversal opens: October 1
Academic Challenge deadline: July 1

🧭 Tip: Some aid is automatic, but others (like the Governor’s Scholarship) are competitive. Apply early and review what’s required for each one inside the YOUniversal portal.

📊 Step 3: What Do These Programs Cover?

Amounts vary depending on ACT score, need level, and college type. Here’s what the most common programs generally provide:

Program	Who It Helps	Award Amount
Academic Challenge	Students with qualifying ACT scores	Up to $14,000 over 4 years
Governor’s Distinguished	Top academic students	$10,000/year
ArFuture Grant	Students in 2-year or tech programs	Full tuition and fees (last-dollar)
LEO Dependents	Children of fallen/injured officers	Full tuition, fees, and room/board
Military Dependents	Children/spouses of disabled/killed veterans	Tuition, fees, and books

📎 Helpful Links & Next Steps

🏫 Arkansas Public Colleges We’ll Cover Soon

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