Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship

The Governor’s Scholars (Non-Distinguished) Scholarship is offered to the highest-scoring high school senior in an Arkansas county where a Governor’s Distinguished Scholar was not able to be chosen for that year.  It will also be offered to high school seniors who will graduate with a Diploma of Distinction or who have earned an Associate’s degree while in high school.  FAFSA is required. The scholarship pays tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board up to $5,000 per year.

Requirements

Be the highest-scoring student between ACT or SAT score, cumulative GPA, and class rank for an Arkansas county that a Governor’s Distinguished Scholar was not selected; or graduate high school with a Diploma of Distinction; or earn an Associate’s degree by the end of the summer semester following your high school graduation.

Award Amount

Up to $5,000 per academic year for 4 years ($20,000 total)

Who May Apply:

High school seniors graduating in their academic year

Note: Non-U.S. Citizens with an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or have a parent who has an EAD may apply for the Governor’s Scholars Program (FAFSA will not be required for these students).  Please contact our office at 501-371-1064 if this is your situation.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

An applicant must:

• Be a bona fide resident of Arkansas for 12 months
• Be a United States citizen or a permanent resident alien
  • Note: Or you or your parent are an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) holder
• Be a graduating high school senior
• Have completed the ACT or SAT prior to the annual deadline above
• Complete the FAFSA
• Begin attendance in at least 15 credit hours each semester at college/university (only 12 credit hours are required in your first semester)

Continuing Eligibility Criteria

• Student must maintain a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale at the end of each academic year
• Student must earn 27 semester credit hours during the first academic year and 30 semester credit hours per year thereafter.

Award Amounts

• The Governor’s Scholars (Non-Distinguished) Scholarship will pay up to $5,000 per year for tuition, mandatory fees, room and board. Students are eligible to accept both the Academic Challenge and the Governor’s Scholars (Non-Distinguished) Scholarship.  If a student receives both, the award amounts are listed below for each year they are receiving the scholarships.  
  • Student receiving both Governor’s Scholars (Non-Distinguished) Scholarship and Academic Challenge per Academic Year at a 4-Year institution:

              Academic Challenge      Governor's Scholars

Year 1    $2,000                             $5,000

Year 2    $4,000                             $5,000

Year 3    $4,000                             $5,000

Year 4    $5,000                             $5,000

Student receiving both Governor’s Scholars (Non-Distinguished) Scholarship and Academic Challenge per Academic Year at a 2-Year institution until they transfer to a 4-Year institution:

       Academic Challenge           Governor's Scholars

Year 1    $2,000                             $5,000

Year 2    $3,000                             $5,000

5th Semester    $1,000                  $2,500