Guide to Entering Freshman Scholarships

Early Consideration Deadline ⋅ November 15
(Applicants notified by January 15th)

Final Deadline ⋅ February 2
(Applicants notified by March 15th)

The search for college funding can be a daunting process for students and their families during the busy senior year of high school. The Office of Academic Scholarships administers a number of scholarship programs specifically for high school seniors applying to the University of Arkansas. This page provides a guide to the application process for those programs.

Apply

There is a single application for entering freshman academic scholarships, which include the Chancellor’s, Silas Hunt, University, Leadership, and Honors College Academy Scholarships. Students can begin this process by registering online or downloading a paper version of the application on the Apply Online page of the High School Seniors section of our website. This single application will allow a student to apply for 90% of merit-based scholarships available to entering freshmen. Students should also consider the information listed below regarding other funding resources.

Scholarship applicants must also apply for admission to the University of Arkansas via a separate Admission Application.

Selection Criteria

Entering freshman scholarships are awarded to exceptional candidates in our applicant pool each year. The scholarship recipients are in the top 5% of all students nationally, based on GPA, strength of curriculum, ACT and/or SAT scores, writing skills, demonstrated leadership, success in national scholarship competitions, and many other areas of achievement. The scholarships are awarded competitively. Candidates for scholarships typically have a minimum of a 3.75 GPA* and 28 ACT/1240 SAT. The strongest candidates routinely exceed listed minimums while demonstrating a clear commitment to an advanced curriculum, achievement/distinction in many other areas, and superior writing skills.

* The Academic Scholarship Office uses the Arkansas standard for GPA calculation. This calculation is on a 4.0 scale and allows for weighting AP/IB classes only. Students who report a GPA not on a 4.0 scale and/or with weighting for classes other than AP/IB will be recalculated. GPA is one of many selection criteria that will be considered, including test scores, involvement, strength of curriculum, and essay.

The Chancellor’s, Silas Hunt, University, Leadership, and Honors College Academy Scholarship programs are available to new freshmen applying for fall admission only. Current University of Arkansas students, transfer students, and graduate students are not eligible to apply for these scholarships. Current UA students should consult the Guide to Current Student Scholarships. Information on scholarships for students transferring to the UA from another university or college can be found on the Guide to Transfer Student Scholarships or for students applying for graduate school at the Guide for Prospective Graduate Students.

The Application

The Freshman Scholarship Application, when complete, should include the following:

  • Online Registration Form (or the Student Report Form on the paper version)
  • Resume
  • One Essay
  • Official High School Transcript and ACT/SAT scores

Only the materials listed above will be taken into consideration when evaluating a student’s scholarship application. Extraneous materials such as letters of recommendation, portfolios, certificates, photographs, etc. will be removed from the application before being reviewed by the committee. It is not necessary to place the application in a folder or binder.

Tips for the Resume

The resume is a chance to help your application stand out, but there is a good way and a bad way to stand out. Give your resume a professional appearance. Do not include photographs, clip art, or oversized or inappropriate fonts. Do include information about organizations in which you have been involved or played a leading role, academic achievement, service, and other important activities. The general length for the resume is one to two pages.

Tips for the Essays

For many students, the essay can be the most challenging part of the application. The essay is the best opportunity to help the scholarship committee get to know you. The most successful essays engage the prompts and reveal something about the applicant, not just the writing topic. Proofread your essay a number of times and ask your English teacher to review it as well. The essay length are limited to around 600 words. Essays cannot be updated or rewritten once they have been submitted.

Other Financial Aid/Scholarship Resources

Prestigious Fellowships

Each year, the Honors College awards a number of Prestigious Fellowships to students with the highest academic credentials. Competitive applicants for the Prestigious Fellowships typically have national test scores - ACT, SAT, and PSAT - in the top 2 percentile nationally and have demonstrated academic achievement by performing at the top level in the most advanced courses offered in their schools. For those students who believe they meet the qualifications and choose to complete the separate Application for Prestigious Fellowships, there is no need to complete the Application for Academic Scholarships, as the Fellowship application will enter them into consideration for the scholarship programs administered by the Office of Academic Scholarships as well.

Other UA Scholarships

You may also wish to inquire with the college or department at the University of Arkansas in which you intend to major about potential scholarship opportunities. Not all colleges/majors/departments offer scholarships for entering freshmen. Please consult the links to College/Departmental Scholarships.

Students may be eligible for the scholarships offered by the Arkansas Alumni Association.

Students from neighboring states may be eligible for the Non-Resident Tuition Award.

Outside Scholarships

In addition our website also provides a list of outside scholarship programs for which you may be eligible to apply. Check the Guide to Outside Scholarship.

Arkansas residents are encouraged to apply for the Arkansas Governor's Scholars Program and Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.

Need-based Aid

Students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is not required for your scholarship application, but we highly encourage it, even if you think you may not qualify for federal aid. Millions of dollars in federal financial aid are awarded to U of A students each year, and there is no fee to apply.