📅 2026–2027 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2025–2026). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2026–2027 numbers are released.

Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.

Average Federal Net Price: $11,225 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

Tuition Savings Options:

• Contiguous States Waiver: Residents of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Oklahoma automatically qualify for in-state tuition rates. This lowers non-resident tuition from $22,870 down to the $10,185 in-state level.
• Academic Common Market (ACM): Through the Southern Regional Education Board’s Academic Common Market, students from participating states can pay in-state rates for approved majors not offered at home. Application required through your state higher-ed office.

Sources:
https://ualr.edu/bursar/tuitionandfees/
https://ualr.edu/financialaid/undergrad/coa/
https://ualr.edu/housing/rates/
https://ualr.edu/admissions/instate/
https://ualr.edu/scholarships/freshmen/
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/university-of-arkansas-at-little-rock/tuition-and-costs
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?107558-University-of-Arkansas-at-Little-Rock=

Do I need a separate application? No — these awards are automatic as part of your admission file, including the new Half-Off Scholarship.

Does UA Little Rock superscore? Yes, your highest ACT/SAT section scores across test dates are used for scholarship review.

Can I stack these awards? Only one academic (merit) scholarship can be combined with certain programmatic awards. The Donaghey Scholars Program and Half-Off Scholarship cannot be stacked with other institutional academic awards.

Sources:
ualr.edu/scholarships/
ualr.edu/admissions/cost-financial-aid/
ualr.edu/catalog/academic-policies/

What qualities make a strong CLC applicant?
The most successful Chancellor’s Leadership Corps applicants demonstrate sustained and meaningful leadership—such as founding or organizing a project, maintaining a role in community or school initiatives, or having a major ongoing impact in family, volunteer, or extracurricular settings. In addition to meeting academic minimums, applicants should express thoughtfulness and enthusiasm through their essays, recommendations, and interviews. The CLC interview committee especially values applicants who communicate well, show self-awareness, and are motivated to foster a positive campus community .

What is the CLC interview really like?
Applicants are typically invited to participate in a small-group or panel interview. The discussion covers topics such as personal service experiences, motivations for joining the program, and ideas for contributing to CLC programming. Interviewers aim to learn about a candidate’s initiative, reliability, and ability to articulate goals. Applicants are encouraged to dress professionally and prepare relevant examples to share with the committee .

What ongoing requirements do CLC scholars face?
Students in the CLC program are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, live on campus during their first year, complete the required orientation and First Year Experience courses, fulfill annual service hour requirements, and actively participate in professional development programming. Scholars must meet these criteria each year in order to renew their award .

Why does CLC housing matter?
The university strongly encourages CLC scholars to live in West Hall and participate in the Living Learning Community. This arrangement offers a built-in support system for adjusting to college life, enhanced networking with fellow scholarship recipients, and greater accountability for involvement and academic success .

Can CLC be stacked with other scholarships?
The CLC scholarship can generally be combined with a single academic or automatic merit award, in accordance with UA Little Rock’s university-wide stacking rules. However, certain flagship or high-value program awards are not stackable. It is always important to check the terms and award letters for each individual scholarship.

Sources:
ualr.edu/clc/
ualr.edu/clc/requirements/
ualr.edu/scholarships/
ualr.edu/catalog/academic-policies/

Are these scholarships automatic?
The Trojan Guarantee and Half-Off Scholarship are automatic if all eligibility is met and aid credentials are submitted on time. Other awards, such as SURF and Trojan Travels, require an extra application and have specific deadlines.

Can these scholarships be combined with automatic merit?
Pell, Challenge, and Trojan Guarantee can be combined with stackable outside funding, but some awards have stacking and renewal limits. Students should check each program’s annual instructions.

Are award amounts and deadlines guaranteed?
All amounts and dates are based on the UA Little Rock and Arkansas Department of Higher Education releases; always confirm the current year’s instructions before applying.

Which students benefit most from these programs?
The most common recipients are Pell-eligible or middle-income Arkansas families, upper-level students with faculty-led research, and students planning to study abroad.

Sources:
ualr.edu/scholarships/
ualr.edu/trojan-guarantee/
ualr.edu/studyabroad/
sams.adhe.edu/

What a Typical Donaghey Scholar Looks Like:
Most recipients have a GPA in the 3.8–4.0 range, ACT scores in the high 20s or above (SAT ~1300+), a record of rigorous courses, demonstrated leadership roles, service projects, and the ability to shine in essays and interviews.

Honors Perks That Matter:

• Full in-state tuition and fees covered for 8 semesters (up to 18 hours/semester)
• $8,000–$10,000 annual stipend
• Housing subsidy and a funded study abroad experience
• Laptop computer provided to each scholar
• Priority registration and access to faculty mentors

Is admission automatic? No. Students must submit a separate application, essays, recommendations, and participate in an interview process.

Does the program add time to a degree? No. The Donaghey curriculum is designed to replace general education requirements, allowing students to graduate on a standard timeline.

What’s the priority deadline? UA Little Rock’s Donaghey Scholars Program applications are due by February 15; early applicants get priority if they apply by January 15.

How much can a scholar actually receive? Donaghey scholars can receive a value well over $90,000 across four years, including tuition, stipend, housing, study abroad, and a laptop.

Sources:
ualr.edu/donagheyscholars/
ualr.edu/scholarships/
ualr.catalog.acalog.com/

Best-Known Program:
UA Little Rock’s Cybersecurity program is designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the NSA and Department of Homeland Security. That federal seal signals rigorous training and direct employer credibility in a fast-growing field.

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