Scholarship Deadline to Apply

Annual Deadline
March 1

 Requirements

 Award Amount

Up to $10,000 per academic year for 4 years

 Who May Apply:

High school seniors who possess a 32 ACT composite or superscore or 1410 on the SAT while maintaining a 3.5 unweighted, cumulative GPA or the standing of National Merit and National Achievement Finalist.

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.

 Detailed Description

Basic Eligibility Criteria

An applicant must:

• Be a bona fide resident of Arkansas
• Be a United States citizen or a permanent resident alien
• Be a graduating high school senior
• Have a composite score or superscore of 32 on the ACT OR a combined math and critical reasoning score of 1410 on a single SAT; AND
• Have a 3.5 academic grade point average OR selection as a National Achievement Finalist or National Merit Finalist
• 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 3.25 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale at the end of each academic year
• Student must complete 27 semester credit hours during the first academic year and 30 semester credit hours per year thereafter.

Award Amounts

• The Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship will pay up to $10,000 per year for tuition, mandatory fees, room and board. Students are eligible to accept both the Academic Challenge and the Governor’s Distinguished Scholars.  If a student receives both, the award amounts are listed below for each year they are receiving the scholarships.  
  • Student receiving both Governor's Distinguished and Academic Challenge per Academic Year at a 4-Year institution:

   

  	Academic Challenge	Governor's Distinguished
  Year 1	$1,000	$9,000
  Year 2	$4,000	$6,000
  Year 3	$4,000	$6,000
  Year 4	$5,000	$5,000

   

  • Student receiving both Governor's Distinguished and Academic Challenge per Academic Year at a 2-Year institution until they transfer to a 4-Year institution:

   

  	Academic Challenge	Governor's Distinguished
  Year 1	$1,000	$9,000
  Year 2	$3,000	$7,000
  5th Semester	$1,000	$3,500

  
  

 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 complete 30 hours with a 3.25+ GPA the academic year prior to beginning their graduate program in a Fall semester or 15 hours with a 3.25+ 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 $5,000 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. 

Graduate School Form