The Arkansas Academic Challenge Program provides scholarships to Arkansas residents pursuing higher education. Funded in large part by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship is available to students regardless of their academic status, whether just graduating from high school, currently enrolled in college, enrolling in college for the first time, or re-enrolling after a period of time out of college.

Scholarship Deadline to Apply: July 01

Academic Challenge (lottery)

Arkansas Future (ArFuture) is the newest state grant program. The purpose of this grant is to increase the education and skills of Arkansas’s workforce in an affordable manner. The grant applies to students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) or regional high-demand areas of study. The grant will cover tuition and fees for qualifying certificate and Associate degree programs at Arkansas public institutions for eligible students. The grant is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Apply at https://www.ark.org/adhe_financialaid/login.aspx

• Fall Deadline: July 1
• Spring Deadline: January 10

SAU Tech Programs that Qualify for AR Futures Grants: (updated for 2022-23)

SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency A+ Certification
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Computer Engineering
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Cloud Computing
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Microsoft Operating Systems
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Networking
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Cybersecurity
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Computer Repair
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Engineering Technology
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Electronics and Instrumentation
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Production Technician
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Aerospace Technology
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Non-destructive Testing
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Criminal Justice
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Aviation Maintenance
SAU - Tech Certificate of Proficiency Welding Technology
SAU - Tech Technical Certificate Computer Information Technology
SAU - Tech Technical Certificate Multimedia Graphics Technology
SAU - Tech Technical Certificate Engineering Technology
SAU - Tech Technical Certificate Production Technician
SAU - Tech Technical Certificate Mechanical Maintenance
SAU - Tech Technical Certificate Nondestructive Testing
SAU - Tech Technical Certificate Law Enforcement
SAU - Tech Technical Certificate Aviation Maintenance Airframe
SAU - Tech Technical Certificate Aviation Maintenance Powerplant
SAU - Tech Technical Certificate Welding
SAU - Tech Technical Certificate Practical Nursing
SAU - Tech Associate Degree Computer Information Systems Technology
SAU - Tech Associate Degree Multimedia Technology
SAU - Tech Associate Degree Multimedia Audio / Video Production
SAU - Tech Associate Degree Education
SAU - Tech Associate Degree Industrial Sciences & Technology
SAU - Tech Associate Degree Aviation Maintenance
SAU - Tech Associate Degree Diagnostic Medical Sonography
SAU - Tech Associate Degree Nursing

Requirements:

Important Note: For students receiving AR Future funds for Fall 2021 and/or Spring 2022, the Mentorship and Community Service requirements have been waived for the 2021-2022 Academic Year. Students may now qualify for an ArFuture Grant even if they have already earned an associate degree. 

An Applicant must:

• Have either graduated from an Arkansas public school, private school, home school or received a high school equivalency diploma approved by the Department of Career Education; or
• Verify that he or she has resided within the state for the three (3) years immediately preceding application and has either:
  • Graduated from an out-of-state high school, private school, home school, or received a high school equivalency diploma approved by another state.
• Be enrolled part-time or full-time at an approved institution of higher education in a program of study that leads to an associate degree or a certification in a STEM or regional high-demand field.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Overview > Rules and Regulations 

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The purpose of the scholarship is for workforce training in high-demand areas of healthcare, information technology, and industry.  Classes are not limited to credit-bearing programs.  Non-credit, workforce-training classes that fit into the three above categories may also qualify. Apply at https://www.ark.org/adhe_financialaid/login.aspx

Eligible Training Programs at SAU Tech:

• AAS Aviation Maintenance
• CP Aviation Maintenance
• CP HVAC
• TC Aviation Maintenance Airframe
• TC Aviation Maintenance Powerplant
• TC HVAC/Electronics and Instrumentation
• CP Nursing Assistant
• TC Practical Nursing

Requirements:

• Be an Arkansas resident
• Must be a high school graduate or received high school equivalency
• Students cannot be current recipients of the Academic Challenge Scholarship
• Be accepted for admission into an approved program as defined by ADHE

Deadline for Application
Students must apply at least 30 days prior to enrollment in an eligible program.

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• Eligibility Requirements to Apply for the ACC Academic All-Star Scholarship
  • Enrolled at SAU Tech and expected to continue enrollment through at least fall 2022
  • Completed a minimum of 24 credit hours towards an associate degree by June 1, 2022
  • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25
  • Involvement in campus and/or community activities
  • Intent to graduate from SAU Tech with an associate degree no later than the summer of 2023 with plans to transfer to a four-year college in Arkansas
  • Completion of this application (links below) and two recommendations must be submitted as well. (links will be provided upon submission of the application)
• Tips: Essays can be written in Word, spellchecked, and then copied and pasted into the form.

Application: https://sautech.formstack.com/forms/acc_allstar_application

Recommendation Form: https://sautech.formstack.com/forms/saut_accallstar_recommendation

The T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) Early Childhood ® Scholarship Program is a licensed program of the Arkansas Early Childhood Association. It is a national, evidence-based strategy that creates access to higher education for teachers, directors, and family child-care providers working with young children.  T.E.A.C.H. provides comprehensive scholarships to enable early educators to take coursework leading to credentials and degrees by making it possible for them to afford both the time and expense of going to school. The FAFSA is not required for this scholarship. Apply at https://arkansasearlychildhood.org/teach/ccc/

• Eligibility Requirements to Apply for the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood^® Arkansas Scholarship
  • Working as a director, teacher, or assistant at least 30 hours/week in a licensed child care center
  • Be admitted to an approved college-level program in early childhood
  • Obtain agreement from child care employer for sponsor scholarship

• Requirements for Sponsoring Employers
  
  • Be in good standing with Arkansas DHS DCCECE Child Care Licensing
  • Agree to sponsor participating employee with release time and pay established bonus upon employee's completion of educational contract and commitment
  • Better Beginnings accreditation is encouraged, but not required

For more information, a complete overview can be found here. You can also go to https://arkansasearlychildhood.org/teach/