Arkansas Future Grant

Scholarship Sponsored by Arkansas Department of Higher Education

Program Overview

Arkansas Future (ArFuture) is a state grant program designed to expand access to affordable education and workforce training. It targets students pursuing qualifying certificate and associate degree programs at Arkansas public institutions, with emphasis on STEM and regional high-demand fields. The grant covers tuition and fees for eligible programs and is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The program aims to strengthen the state's workforce by reducing financial barriers to short-term and two-year credentials.

Description: A state-funded grant that pays tuition, fees, and other charges for eligible students enrolled in approved certificate or associate degree programs in STEM or high-demand regional fields.

• Focuses on workforce-aligned certificates and associate degrees.
• Available at Arkansas public institutions.
• Distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligibility

Eligibility requires proof of an Arkansas educational connection or residency and enrollment in an approved program that leads to an associate degree or credential in STEM or regional high-demand fields. Applicants must either have graduated from an Arkansas public, private, or home school—or hold an Arkansas-approved high school equivalency—or verify three years of state residency and graduation from an out-of-state school or equivalent. Students must be enrolled part-time or full-time at an approved institution of higher education. Specific documentation and approval are determined by the administering agency and the enrolled institution.

Eligibility: Academic and residency criteria plus enrollment in an approved STEM or regional high-demand associate or certificate program.

• Graduation from an Arkansas school or approved high school equivalency qualifies, or three years of prior Arkansas residency with out-of-state graduation.
• Enrollment can be part-time or full-time in an approved program.
• Approval is required from the participating institution and program must meet ArFuture criteria.

Continuing Eligibility

Students may remain eligible for the ArFuture grant until certain completion or performance limits are reached. Eligibility ends when a student earns an associate degree, has received ArFuture funding for five semesters, or fails to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by their institution. Institutions are responsible for monitoring SAP and determining continued eligibility. Students should consult their financial aid office for SAP standards and appeals processes.

Continuing Eligibility: Ongoing eligibility depends on degree completion, semester funding limits, and academic progress standards set by the institution.

• Ends upon receipt of an associate degree.
• Funding is limited to five semesters per student.
• Maintaining SAP is required to continue receiving funds.

Award Amounts

ArFuture grants cover tuition, fees, and other charges for eligible students, reduced by amounts received from state scholarships, federal student aid, and private scholarships. When a student is enrolled at a four-year institution, the payable amount is calculated using the average cost of tuition, fees, and charges at approved two-year institutions. The final award amount is therefore the net cost after offsetting other financial assistance. Institutions calculate and apply the grant based on their posted charges and the student’s existing aid package.

Award Value: The grant pays eligible tuition and fees minus other financial aid; four-year enrollment is adjusted to a two-year cost basis.

• Award equals tuition, fees, and charges less other aid.
• Other state, federal, and private aid reduce the ArFuture payment.
• Costs for four-year enrollments are standardized to the average two-year rate for payment purposes.