New Incoming Freshmen

Application Process

1

Apply for admission
If you are just starting at UA Little Rock, make sure you have completed the online admissions application.

2

Have a current FAFSA application on file
You must have your 2018-2019 FAFSA completed prior to the scholarship opportunity deadline in order to be considered.

3

Access your Trojan SMART scholarship application
By filling out the online scholarship application and submitting required documents, you apply for a variety of UA Little Rock scholarships in one spot.

What we look for & what you need to know:

  • A New Incoming (first-time) Freshman is a student who has never attended another college or university after high school graduation.
  • Eligibility for incoming freshman scholarships will be based on your ranking among other applicants in the pool.
  • UA Little Rock takes the highest ACT score and high school GPA that is in the UA Little Rock system as of March 1st.
  • We also have incoming freshman awards that are based on leadership, talent and extracurricular involvement. We will look at all of these criteria when we consider you for our incoming freshman scholarships.
  • Be advised that renewable freshman scholarships are for students pursuing their first bachelors degree only.
  • Some academic scholarships require the recipient to live on-campus their freshman year. Please refer to the terms and conditions of your academic scholarship award letter.
  • Priority consideration will be given to applicants who submit all requirements by the December 1 priority deadline. Final deadline is March 1.

Expand For New Incoming Freshmen Scholarship Opportunities & Criteria

Scholarship Description Amount
Chancellor’s Academic Distinction

Deadlines:
Priority: 12/1
Final: 3/1
  • 30+ ACT or equivalent SAT
  • 3.50 minimum cumulative high school GPA
  • a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Live on campus
 Up to $10,000 per year
Chancellor’s Leadership Corps Scholarship Program

Deadlines:
Priority: 12/1
Final: 3/1                    ualr.edu/clc

 This program is highly competitive. Based on academics, leadership, activities and community involvement.

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Minimum ACT score of 19 or SAT equivalent
  • Two letters of recommendation
 Up to $4,000 per year
Concurrent Student

Awarded at time of admission
  • Must have successfully completed at least one UA Little Rock concurrent course while in high school
  • Must meet unconditional admission requirements
 $2,000 per year
Contiguous State Waiver

Awarded at time of admission
  • Meet requirements for unconditional admission
  • be degree seeking
  • Reside in a contiguous state (OK, MO, TN, MS, LA, or TX)
 Waives out-of-state portion of tuition
Deans’ Academic Merit

Deadlines:
Priority: 12/1
Final: 3/1
  • 26+ ACT or equivalent SAT
  • 3.25 minimum cumulative high school GPA
  • a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • an Arkansas resident
  • Live on campus
 Up to $6,000 per year
Donaghey Scholars Program

Deadlines:
Priority: 12/1
Final: 3/1
ualr.edu/donagheyscholars

 This is a highly selective honors program enrolling 25 new scholars each year. Open to all students and majors.Requires ACT/SAT scores, two letters of recommendation, an on-campus interview, and two essays.

  • Essay prompt 1: Compose a tweet (140 characters or fewer) that tells us who you are. Now, dissect it in 800 to 1,000 words. Why did you choose those words? Make sure that you clearly include your tweet at the beginning of your essay.
  • Essay prompt 2: Choose a contentious issue about which you feel passionate and defend your position in 800 to 1,000 words. Be sure to acknowledge the opposing side and support your argument with citations and a bibliography.
 Up to full tuition and fees, $6,000 – $10,000 yearly stipend, study abroad funding, laptop, and housing subsidy – Not Stackable
EAST Scholars

Deadlines:
Priority: 12/1
Final: 3/1
  • at least one year of high school EAST participation
  • 3.0 minimum cumulative high school GPA
  • an Arkansas resident
  • Submit a 250 word (minimum) letter of intent. Preferred information to include: How will this program benefit your career or life after college?What are some strengths you have that would benefit this program? Why do you want to be an EAST scholar?
  • Submit two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from your EAST Facilitator
 Up to $3,000 per year
Engineering and Information Technology (EIT) Academic Scholarship

Deadlines:
Priority: 12/1
Final: 3/1                  ualr.edu/eit
  • Majoring in an undergraduate IT program
  • a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident

Award levels are based on the following academic performance levels:

  • ACT 28-36 or equivalent SAT with a 3.5 minimum cumulative high school GPA
  • ACT 24-27 or equivalent SAT with a 3.0 minimum cumulative high school GPA
  • ACT 22-23 or equivalent SAT with a 3.0 minimum cumulative high school GPA
  

  • Up to $4,000 per year
  • Up to $2,000 per year
  • Up to $1,000 per year
Freshman Award

Deadlines:
Priority: 12/1
Final: 3/1
  • 22-23 ACT or equivalent SAT
  • 3.00 cumulative high school GPA
  • a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • an Arkansas resident
 Up to $2,000 per  year
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in STEM

Deadlines:
Priority: 12/1
Final: 3/1           ualr.edu/lsamp
  • Minimum 19 ACT or equivalent SAT
  • 3.00 minimum cumulative high school GPA
  • must be African-American, Hispanic American, Native American, Alaskan Native, or Native Pacific Islander ethnicity
  • Majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
  • Submit two letters of recommendation.
 $3,600 for 2 years ($1,800 per year) plus $1,200 for the summer institute
New Arkansan Non-Resident Tuition Award

Awarded at time of admission for students not receiving an out-of-state waiver.
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative high school GPA plus minimum 24 ACT or equivalent SAT are required to be eligible for an 80% award
  • Minimum 3.50 cumulative high school GPA plus minimum 26 ACT or SAT equivalent are required to be eligible for a 90% award
 Pays 80-90% of the difference between resident and nonresident tuition
Privately-funded Scholarships

Final deadline: 3/1

 Scholarship funded thru the generosity of private donors. Criteria varies with each scholarship.

  • Must submit FAFSA by March 1 to be considered
 $1,000 – $5,000 per year
Provost’s Academic Excellence

Deadlines:
Priority: 12/1
Final: 3/1
  • 28-29 ACT or equivalent SAT
  • 3.50 minimum cumulative high school GPA
  • a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Must live on campus
 Up to $8,000 per year
Trojan Pathways

Deadline: 11/1

Awarded at time of admission
  • Sign the Trojan Pathways contract at your partner high school by November 1st
  • Meet unconditional admissions requirements
 $2,000 per academic year
UA Little Rock Academic Achievement

Deadlines:
Priority: 12/1
Final: 3/1
  • 24+ ACT or equivalent SAT
  • 3.00 minimum cumulative high school GPA
  • a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • an Arkansas resident
 Up to $4,000 per year