Applying for scholarships at UA Little Rock is an important part of your college career. Incoming freshmen and transfer students only need to apply for admission to UA Little Rock in order to be considered for most of the institutional scholarships through the university.
The English program also offers a multiple scholarship and award opportunities specifically for new and continuing students studying literature, creative writing, or English language arts education.
English Scholarships Deadline:
May 5, 2026
Current and newly admitted UA Little Rock students can apply in Scholarship Universe.
English Program Scholarships
Cooper Promise Scholarship
For new students: first-years or transfers
The Cooper Promise Scholarship is a one-time scholarship for students who are or will have recently enrolled or transferred to UA Little Rock. The recipients must declare a major in one of the English program tracks (literature, creative writing, or secondary education). This scholarship is funded through the William J. Cooper Honors Program in English.
Requirements For Recipients
- Must attend UA Little Rock part-time or full-time in Fall 2026.
- Must be declared as an English major during Fall 2026.
- Must complete at least 3 hours in English during Fall 2026.
- Must be advised by faculty in the English program.
Cooper Success Scholarship
The Cooper Success Scholarship is granted to full- or part-time students who are currently taking at least six hours and who have declared a major in English. Financial need and potential for academic success will strongly be considered. Applicants must submit a typed essay of no more than 600 words discussing their personal and academic goals and explaining how the Cooper Success Scholarship will help them achieve those goals. The issue of financial need should also be specifically addressed. Preference will be given to students who are not already in the Cooper Honors Program.
The Ruth Lovett Booker Scholarship
Awarded to a full-time student majoring in English. Selection is based on academic accomplishment. Applicants must have at least 30 hours by Fall 2026 and they must submit an original written composition– an essay, short story, or poem– of between 100-1,500 words exploring how stories shape our understanding of the world. This scholarship is a variable amount applied to the recipient’s student account.
The Marilyn Keys Endowed Scholarship
Awarded to a full- or part-time English major. Academic accomplishment and financial need will be strongly considered. Applicants will submit a 600-word essay discussing academic and career goals, academic accomplishments, and financial need.
Eleanor Orts Francis English Scholarship
The Eleanor Orts Francis Scholarship is awarded to full- or part-time students with a major in English. Academic accomplishment and financial need will be strongly considered. All things being equal, academic accomplishment will be the determining factor. Applicants must submit a 600-word essay discussing their personal and academic goals, academic accomplishments and financial need. FAFSA required.
Martha Sawrie Stephenson Endowed Scholarship
Awarded to a full-time or part-time student who is enrolled in a minimum of six hours. The recipient must have a declared major in English, History, or Political Science. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA no lower than 2.5 and no higher than 3.5. Because the scholarship is renewable, it shall not be revoked if the student’s GPA exceeds 3.5 in subsequent years. All things being equal, financial need shall be the determining factor in the selection process.
Applications for this award are circulated separately, outside of Scholarship Universe, by the English, History, and Political Science programs.
Awards
The Roslyn L. Knutson English Award
Awarded to a full- or part-time student majoring in English, with preference given to students who are in the English-Secondary Education major track. Selection is based on academic accomplishment and financial need, and preference will be given to junior and senior students. The award will provide assistance for any education related expenses, including but not limited to books, tuition, fees, and room and board.
The Alma K. Dougherty Award (for creative writing)
Awarded to a student demonstrating a high degree of creative writing talent who is pursuing a degree in English with a heavy creative writing emphasis. The student must be enrolled in a minimum of six hours and must be of sophomore, junior, or senior standing. The student must also have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Selection is based on the merits of the student’s creative writing projects throughout the year, as determined by the creative writing faculty. This award includes a scholarship of variable amount for the following fall semester.
The Gladys K. Brown Award (for graduating senior)
Awarded to the graduating senior majoring in English with the highest GPA in UA Little Rock English courses (sophomore-level or higher; transfer hours not included). The student must have been enrolled at UA Little Rock for at least 60 hours and must have taken at least 18 hours of upper-level UA Little Rock English courses. Ties are broken on the basis of (1) greater number of UA Little Rock English hours completed, and (2) greater number of UA Little Rock hours completed, in that order of priority.
The Kathryn Ramsey Award (for literary criticism)
Awarded to an English major who has been judged by a faculty committee to have written the most outstanding interpretive essay during the year. Faculty members will recommend the best papers from their courses for consideration for this award.
The Richard Stanley Cooper Literary Award (for creative writing)
Awarded to the student submitting the best literary effort during the current academic year, as determined by the creative writing faculty.
Additional Scholarship Information
Sigma Tau Delta Scholarships (for members of this honor society)
Donaghey Scholars Honors Program (UA Little Rock’s fully-funded university Honors Program)