Scholarship for New Graduate Students
The “Get Your Feet Wet” scholarship sets graduate students up for success. This scholarship is for students in their first semester of graduate school. It covers the cost of in-state tuition for one three-credit-hour course in your chosen graduate program.
Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis using the answers you supply on the application form.
Approximately 25 students receive funding each fall semester, and another 25 are awarded each spring. We do not offer summer funding, but if your first semester is a summer semester, you are allowed to apply for the award in the fall.
Eligibility
The “Get Your Feet Wet” scholarship is open to applicants who meet this criteria:
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Must be enrolling in their first semester of grad school in Spring 2024
- Must be fully admitted to a graduate program at UA Little Rock
- NOT awarded a graduate assistantship
- NOT be full-time employees of UA Little Rock or another U of A system school
Application Deadline
Priority Application deadline: December 8, 2023
Final Application Deadline: January 8, 2023
The Grad School will begin selecting award winners after the December 8 priority deadline. Selections will end after 25 award winners have been chosen OR after January 8, whichever comes first. Recipients will be contacted before classes begin.
Please complete your graduate school application as soon as possible when applying for this award. You must complete your grad school application AND be admitted into a graduate program to be considered for this scholarship.
Payment Details
This scholarship covers in-state tuition for one graduate course ($975 for most students, or $1053 for students in business programs). You are eligible for in-state tuition if 1) you have established residency in Arkansas, or 2) if you live in a state bordering Arkansas. If you are a first-semester grad student, but you don’t qualify for in-state tuition, you are still welcome to apply for this award. Be aware, however, that the scholarship will not cover the full cost of out-of-state tuition.
The award does not cover the fees that all students pay when registering for courses. For more details about these costs, please visit the Graduate Tuition and Fees webpage. Note that technology fees vary by college, and all main campus students pay the fees listed under Other Fees. As a result of these fees, you will still need to pay a reduced balance on your student account even if you register for just one course.
Note: If you are in an online program that participates in UA Little Rock online, your tuition rate of $396 per credit hour includes fees that apply to online campus students. This award will still pay you either $975 or $1053. You will still have a small balance to pay (approximately $215 or less) if you register for one class.
Tuition payments are applied directly to your student account. You must be registered for at least one graduate course before the award can be applied to your account. Tuition credits will be processed 2-3 weeks after you are notified of the award, assuming you are registered.
Contact Dr. Karen Kuralt, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, if you have any questions.
Previous Scholarship Recipients
During the pilot of the “Get Your Feet Wet” scholarship, the UA Little Rock Graduate School was able to assist several individuals from different backgrounds. All applicants were interested in graduate school but needed financial assistance to help make that dream happen. This scholarship made these dreams a reality. Here are a few of their stories.
“The Get Your Feet Wet scholarship has benefited me greatly during my experience of college because it has given me the opportunity to concentrate entirely on my studies rather than the financial strain of graduate school.” – Kieshona, Health Education and Promotion Program
“I am the only source of income in my household due to COVID. My son is special needs and requires more assistance with the school environment being unstable due to closures, so my husband had to stop working to stay home with him while I continued working. Having this award would help me be able to financially afford to start graduate school in the fall.” – Jennifer, Learning Systems Technology Education (LSTE) MEd
“UA Little Rock’s Sport Management program has a strong reputation, and the online option lets me complete my studies while working full time. As a full-time parent of two school-age children, this award would help me immensely. I am working to provide for my family while still trying to save enough to return to school ad become the first in my family to complete a graduate program. This award will help me start out on a positive note and not further in debt.” – Jonathan, MS in Sport Management
“I have been a child forensic interviewer for over 4 years. My goal is to move from interviewing children to aiding them in working through their trauma. I want to do trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy with children who desperately need it. My heart is in working with children and I want to continue to do so. I have put off school for years now because I was unsure how I would pay for it. I’m still not completely sure how to make my internship work and still be able to work. With 3 children to support, I cannot afford to not work. This aid would greatly benefit me and would provide a lot of relief for me.” – Morgan, Social Work (MSW)
“I find myself somewhere I never imagined I would be. I planned to work at Dassault Falcon Jet until it was time to retire, and then COVID hit, and eventually, my position was eliminated. I have not been able to find employment that pays what I used to make with my skill set. My wife and I have a son in college and another that just started junior high. I’ve coached several of my son’s sports teams, and one of the things that has taught me is that sometimes you just need a win. I need a win!” – Michael, Learning Systems Technology Education (LSTE) Graduate Certificate
UA Little Rock Graduate School Get Your Feet Wet Scholarship
The “Get Your Feet Wet” scholarship sets graduate students up for success. This scholarship supports students in their first semester of graduate school by paying tuition for one three-credit-hour course in their program. Apply Now!
