Governor’s Scholars Program – Non-Distinguished Scholars | GS
Important Note: The following information is intended as a general overview of the program for those applying, or who are considering applying, for the scholarship and is not intended to be a comprehensive compilation of program requirements. For complete information, please refer to the program’s rules and regulations.
The Governor’s Scholars (Non-Distinguished) Scholarship is offered to the highest scoring high school senior in an Arkansas county where a Governor’s Distinguished Scholar was not able to be chosen for that year. It will also be offered to high school seniors that will graduate with a Diploma of Distinction or that have earned an Associate’s degree while in high school. FAFSA is required. The scholarship pays tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board up to $5,000 per year.
Scholarship Deadline to Apply
Annual Deadline
July 1
Requirements
Be the highest scoring student between ACT or SAT score, cumulative GPA, and class rank for an Arkansas county that a Governor’s Distinguished Scholar was not selected; or graduate high school with a Diploma of Distinction; or earn an Associate’s degree by the end of the summer semester following your high school graduation.
Award Amount
Up to $5,000 per academic year for 4 years ($20,000 total)
Who May Apply:
High school seniors graduating in their academic year
NOTE: Non-U.S. Citizens with an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or have a parent who has an EAD may apply for the Governor’s Scholars Program (FAFSA will not be required for these students). Please contact our office at 501-371-1064 if this is your situation.
NOTE: ADHE will take the official composite or superscore from ACT only. We are not able to manually add or remove the Science from any ACT test that is taken, Legacy or Enhanced. You will need to coordinate with ACT and/or your high school counselor to determine the best option to reach the ACT composite or superscore you are aiming for BEFORE you take the test. You cannot then decide AFTER the test to add or remove the Science score.
Detailed Description
Basic Eligibility Criteria
An applicant must:
- Be a bona fide resident of Arkansas for 12 months
- Be a United States citizen or a permanent resident alien
- Note: Or you or your parent are an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) holder
- Be a graduating high school senior
- Have completed the ACT or SAT prior to the annual deadline above
- Complete the FAFSA
- Begin attendance in at least 15 credit hours each semester at college/university (only 12 credit hours is required your first semester)
Continuing Eligibility Criteria
- Student must maintain a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale at the end of each academic year
- Student must earn 27 semester credit hours during the first academic year and 30 semester credit hours per year thereafter.
Award Amounts
- The Governor’s Scholars (Non-Distinguished) Scholarship will pay up to $5,000 per year for tuition, mandatory fees, room and board. Students are eligible to accept both the Academic Challenge and the Governor’s Scholars (Non-Distinguished) Scholarship. If a student receives both, the award amounts are listed below for each year they are receiving the scholarships.
- Student receiving both Governor’s Scholars (Non-Distinguished) Scholarship and Academic Challenge per Academic Year at a 4-Year institution:
| Academic Challenge | Governor's Scholars | |
| Year 1 | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Year 2 | $4,000 | $5,000 |
| Year 3 | $4,000 | $5,000 |
| Year 4 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
- Student receiving both Governor’s Scholars (Non-Distinguished) Scholarship and Academic Challenge per Academic Year at a 2-Year institution until they transfer to a 4-Year institution:
| Academic Challenge | Governor's Scholars | |
| Year 1 | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Year 2 | $3,000 | $5,000 |
| 5th Semester | $1,000 | $2,500 |
Other Information
Graduate School Criteria
Those that graduate from undergrad early have the option to use the remaining semesters for graduate school. There are a few rules that come with this option, listed below:
- Students who graduate early from undergrad have the option to use one or both remaining semester(s) from their Senior year of funding for graduate school. (Max 2 semesters)
- The Graduate school must be based in Arkansas, or an eligible Out-of-State School and Program
- See “Approved Institution” definition in Rules and Regulations.
- Student must be accepted and start the graduate program the semester immediately following their undergraduate graduation (summer semesters not included).
- Students must submit their Graduate School Form and attach their graduate acceptance letter, linked below.
- If a student has an extenuating circumstance or your graduate program doesn’t start immediately following your graduation, they can have their scholarship held up to a year by submitting a hold through their SAMS account.
- Students must earn 30 hours with a 3.00+ GPA the academic year prior to beginning their graduate program in a Fall semester or 15 hours with a 3.00+ GPA if your graduate program begins in a Spring semester following graduating in a Fall semester in the middle of an academic year.
The scholarship amount for graduate school is based on the hours enrolled in. Seniors receive $2,500 a semester, if enrolled in 9 or more hours. Below is a chart of the proration.
- Enrolled in 3-5 hours= 50%
- Enrolled in 6-8 hours= 75%
- Enrolled in 9+ hours=100%
To request your remaining semesters be used for graduate school, please submit your Graduate Acceptance Letter using the link below.