Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship
ListedScholarship
- Award
- Ongoing rates beginning 2025-26: four-year institution $2,000 year one, $4,000 years two/three, $5,000 year four; two-year institution $2,000 year one and $3,000 year two. Need-based Challenge PLUS can increase total to $2,500 per semester based on FAFSA SAI. Final-year, nontraditional and graduate funding have load rules; current sources disagree on some fifth-semester two-year/stacked allocations. Normally eight payments, bachelor completion or 120 credits, with approved longer-degree exception.
- Timeline
- Jul 1Annual application
- Jun 1Current guidance does not label a 2027 cycle year/time zone. Qualifying ACT can be taken through national July administration. Summer opt-in recurring
- Oct 1Transfers/holds recurring fall or February 1 spring.
- How to apply
- Create SAMS account and apply, complete FAFSA even if no financial need, monitor academic/test matching and requests, accept award and keep institution/contact records current. No annual scholarship reapplication for renewal. Programme has separate hold, transfer, summer opt-in and graduate-use forms; follow deadlines in SAMS notices.
- What you'll need
- A separate scholarship application
- Required financial-aid forms (check the program's rules)
- Who can apply
- Arkansas resident for 12 months before enrolment and U.S. citizen/lawful permanent resident; accepted in approved degree/certificate/nursing programme, no prior bachelor or 120 credits. Traditional route: Diploma of Merit, OR GPA below 3.00/equivalent plus ACT 19/SAT 990/Accuplacer average 246, OR GPA 3.00+ plus test score on record without score minimum. Later first-year college route can use 27 credits with 2.50 GPA. Nontraditional applicants have college-GPA or test/GPA routes, but overview and detailed section differ for the no-college-credit GPA-only route. ACT official composites/superscores accepted; ADHE cannot manually remove science. Aid refund/loan-limit, incarceration, Selective Service and drug-free restrictions apply.
- Good to know
- Traditional load normally 12 first fall then 15 each semester, renewal 2.50 GPA and 27 first-year/30 later annual credits. Current recipient sheet allows fourth-year payment at six or more credits without reduction, conflicting with broader proration guidance; confirm load exceptions. Nontraditional six-to-14-credit funding may be prorated. One eligible institution or approved consortium; continuous enrolment and approved holds up to four semesters. Summer paid terms consume eligibility and have additional earned-credit duties; early graduates may use limited remaining senior payments for approved graduate study.
- Details
- Test optionalPermanent residents eligible