Arkansas Academic Challenge: Entry, PLUS & Renewal

At a glance

Free if eligible

What it covers: Starting with 2025–26, base annual awards at four-year colleges are $2,000/$4,000/$4,000/$5,000 by year; two-year awards are $2,000/$3,000. Part-time nontraditional payments are prorated; FAFSA/SAI can add PLUS funding subject to a $2,500-per-semester total cap.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗
Income / financial rules: FAFSA is required even though income is not a determining factor for the base scholarship. Additional PLUS depends on SAI and the applicable study-year/institution table; do not assume every base recipient receives it.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗
Who to check first: Meet the stated Arkansas residency (normally 12 months) and U.S. citizen/lawful permanent-resident conditions; enter an approved degree, qualified certificate or nursing-diploma programme, normally with no prior bachelor’s or 120 earned credits. Other aid-default/refund, conduct and registration conditions apply.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗
Application timing: Annual new-application deadline: July 1; no year is attached to that recurring date here. Confirm your cohort/current SAMS intake with ADHE, especially when resolving conflicting entry guidance.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗

Read official guidanceYou’ll leave FreeCheapEdu. The program makes the eligibility decision.

Check your eligibility

Some items describe alternative routes rather than requirements for everyone. Use the route that applies to you as a preparation checklist; the program makes the eligibility decision.

Meet the stated Arkansas residency (normally 12 months) and U.S. citizen/lawful permanent-resident conditions; enter an approved degree, qualified certificate or nursing-diploma programme, normally with no prior bachelor’s or 120 earned credits. Other aid-default/refund, conduct and registration conditions apply.Nontraditional college-credit applicants use at least 2.5 cumulative college GPA. The overview also offers no-credit applicants ACT 19/equivalent OR high-school GPA 3.0, while its detailed subsection still requires the test; ask ADHE to confirm the route before relying on GPA alone.Traditional students normally enroll in 12 credits first fall and 15 each later term, with 27 earned credits first year then 30 annually and cumulative GPA 2.5. Nontraditional study can be 6–14 part-time or 15+ full-time; continuing earned-credit requirements depend on funded enrollment.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗

How to apply

1
Apply through SAMS by the annual July 1 date and complete FAFSA. Supply the academic/test and residency documents requested for your actual traditional or nontraditional category.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗
2
Confirm campus census enrollment, the actual base/PLUS award and continuing GPA/credits. Continuing recipients do not reapply annually for this scholarship; ask about holds/transfers before interrupting enrollment.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗

What to watch for

Current web entry options and the linked July-2026 rules do not describe Diploma of Merit/GPA/test alternatives identically. The rules combine GPA 3.0, a readiness assessment and Diploma with Merit in one branch; obtain ADHE’s determination rather than treating the overview’s GPA-only or diploma-only wording as approval.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗

Other awards and attendance cost can reduce payment. Nontraditional proration, summer opt-in and credit limits are separate conditions; an award maximum is not a full bill or automatic payment at multiple colleges.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗

Common questions

What is the main benefit?

Starting with 2025–26, base annual awards at four-year colleges are $2,000/$4,000/$4,000/$5,000 by year; two-year awards are $2,000/$3,000. Part-time nontraditional payments are prorated; FAFSA/SAI can add PLUS funding subject to a $2,500-per-semester total cap.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗

Is there an income limit?

FAFSA is required even though income is not a determining factor for the base scholarship. Additional PLUS depends on SAI and the applicable study-year/institution table; do not assume every base recipient receives it.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗

When should I apply?

Annual new-application deadline: July 1; no year is attached to that recurring date here. Confirm your cohort/current SAMS intake with ADHE, especially when resolving conflicting entry guidance.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Arkansas Division of Higher Education ↗