Scholarship Deadline to Apply

Annual Deadline
July 1

 Award Amount

Waives in-state tuition and mandatory fees at eligible Arkansas institutions.

 Who May Apply:

Undergraduates who are dependent children or spouses of persons who were killed or missing in action, were prisoners of war, recipients of a Medal of Honor or Purple Heart, or permanently and totally disabled through military service OR dependent children or spouses of persons killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, forester, correctional officer, Community Punishment Department or Transportation Department employee, or teacher.

 Detailed Description

General Information

Arkansas Heroes Scholarship provides an eight-semester scholarship to undergraduate students seeking a bachelor's degree at any public or private institution in Arkansas who qualify as a spouse or dependent child* of an Arkansas resident who has been declared killed in action or to be to be 100% totally and permanently disabled during, or as a result of, service/line of duty:

• Military
  • Also includes recipients of a Medal of Honor or Purple Heart, declared missing in action, prisoners of war, or killed on ordnance delivery
• Law enforcement officers
• Full-time or volunteer firefighters
• Municipal and/or college or university police officers
• Sheriffs or deputy sheriffs
• Constables
• Game Wardens
• Certain Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department employees
• State forestry employees engaged in fighting forest fires
• State correction employees killed or totally disabled due to contact with inmates or parolees
• State park employees who are commissioned law enforcement officers or emergency response employees
• Emergency Medical Technicians
• Department of Community Punishment employees
• Teachers

*The Division of Higher Education uses the criteria of “dependent child” as defined by the U. S. Department of Education.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

• The student has been a legal Arkansas resident for at least one (1) year before submitting a scholarship application
• Be a citizen of the United States or permanent resident
• Be the biological child, Stepchild, legally adopted child or spouse of an eligible Arkansas Hero
• Be enrolled, or accepted for admission to, an approved Arkansas public or private institution
• Provide required documentation as determined by the ADHE

Documents required for undergraduates who are dependent children or spouses of persons who were killed or missing in action, or who were prisoners of war, or permanently and totally disabled through military service. 

• Scholarship application
• Death certificate or other documentation certifying the veteran’s death
• Report of Casualty from the appropriate branch of the United States Armed Services or a copy of the veteran’s DD214 form
• Documentation from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs citing service-connected, one hundred percent (100%) total and permanent disability
• Copy of the application and statement of acceptance or denial of the federal program for dependents of veterans, Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
• Proof of application for Chapter 35 benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
  • Applications to the VA must be submitted no later than June 15th.
• Copy of DEA benefits statement showing the amount of educational assistance allowed for each term
• Copy of legal adoption or court appointed legal guardianship for a dependent child
• Copy of birth certificate (if dependent child)
  • If the applicant is the biological child of an eligible veteran, the veteran must be listed on their birth certificate, or we will need proof of paternity from the court.
• Copy of marriage license (if spouse or stepchild)
• Tax information for five (5) years immediately before the date of death or disability of the Arkansas Hero (Stepchildren under 19 years of age)
• Tax information for eight (8) years immediately before the date of death or disability of the Arkansas Hero (Stepchildren 19 years of age or older)

Documents required for undergraduates who are dependent children or spouses of persons killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, forester, correctional officer, Community Punishment Department or Transportation Department employees, teachers,        

• Scholarship application
• Death certificate
• Order and Finding of Facts from the Arkansas State Claims Commission
• Copy of birth certificate (if dependent child)
• Copy of marriage license (if spouse or stepchild)
• Tax information for five (5) years immediately before the date of death or disability of the Arkansas Hero (Stepchildren under 19 years of age)
• Tax information for eight (8) years immediately before the date of death or disability of the Arkansas Hero (Stepchildren 19 years of age or older)

NOTE: Spouse is not eligible if they remarry.

Continuing Eligibility Criteria

• Student must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Student must earn a minimum of 24 semester hours per academic year

Award Amounts

Waives in-state tuition and mandatory fees at eligible Arkansas institutions.

The Heroes Program cannot be used to cover the cost of books, auto permit, damages or accessories to dorm room, or utility bills. The institution will be reimbursed for covered charges after verification of full-time (12 or more credit hours) enrollment each semester. Eligibility is limited to eight semesters or the achievement of a degree, whichever occurs first. The spouse will no longer be eligible if he or she remarries.

For undergraduates who are dependents or spouses of military veterans, the Heroes Program will cover the unpaid portion of the cost (if any) of tuition and mandatory fees when provided in on-campus facilities after three (3) months of Dependents Education Assistance (DEA)/Chapter 35 benefits have been deducted from the total costs per semester. If there is no positive balance after deduction of DEA benefits, then no benefits will be paid.