The Donaghey Scholars Honors Program Admissions Committee looks for evidence of academic potential, work ethic, intellectual engagement, curiosity, community involvement, and ambition. Our program uses a holistic application process that includes prior academic performance, standardized test scores, writing samples, recommendation letters, and a personal interview with competitive candidates. Applicants must have a high school GPA of at least 3.5 and be admitted to UA Little Rock to apply. While we do not require a minimum ACT score, the median score of admitted students is typically 29-30 or the SAT equivalent.
Donaghey Scholars are required to maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. They are also expected to make adequate progress toward both program and degree completion each semester, including being enrolled in 2 Donaghey program courses until the core curriculum is completed. A Scholar whose cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0 will be dismissed from the program beginning at the end of their second semester.
These requirements only apply to the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program scholarship. Requirements for maintaining state and private scholarships may differ and should be considered separately.
The Donaghey Scholars Honors Program scholarship stacks with most State of Arkansas scholarships, private scholarships, and Pell Grants, but not with UA Little Rock Merit Scholarships. If you have a question about stacking a specific scholarship, please contact our office or the Office of Financial Aid.
While the overwhelming majority of Donaghey Scholars enter the program as first-time freshmen, transfer and current UA Little Rock students may apply as long as they meet the minimum GPA of 3.5 and have not completed more than 36 hours of college credit.
Donaghey Scholars are required to live on campus for their first year in the program. Most Scholars live close to one another in the North Hall Apartments on campus and all Scholars who live on campus receive an additional $700/semester. After the first year, Scholars may live off campus if they choose, however they no longer receive the additional $700/semester housing stipend.
While the Donaghey Scholars Program values civic engagement and attracts many students who are community-oriented, we are an academic program rather than a service program. Scholars are not required to attend specific events or complete service hours as part of the program, although we do make these opportunities available to interested students.
Donaghey Scholars are required to study abroad as part of their scholarship. These programs range from six-week summer programs to full semesters or even years learning abroad. We do not require that students participate in any specific programs and encourage Scholars to work with us, their major, and the Office of Study Abroad to identify a program that will allow them to accomplish their goals. Catalogs of possible programs are available on the website for the Office of Study Abroad.
Concurrent and AP credit will be awarded at UA Little Rock upon receipt of records. The Donaghey Scholars Program has a core curriculum that differs from the traditional university core, so some of these concurrent and AP credits may transfer in as electives or introductory courses in a major rather than fulfilling our program requirements. In addition to our core, Scholars are still required to take a lab science, American National Government or US History, and a math course, so many of our students use AP or concurrent credit to fulfill those requirements.
The Donaghey Scholars Honors Program scholarship covers up to 18 hours per semester for the fall and spring terms, so summer courses are not included. Scholars who have required courses for their major that are only offered during the summer can petition the program for funding specifically for those courses. Courses taken at other universities over the summer should be transferred to UA Little Rock and approval of the course to fulfill a requirement should be approved by the student’s major in advance of taking the class.