By Ania Melgar
So, you’ve found your dream university (that would be us!), you’ve found a program that’s a perfect fit, you’ve started the application… But how do you pay for it all?
It’s no secret that higher education isn’t cheap. Your degree is an important investment in your future but it can be very costly and you should be aware of all of the expenses associated with getting a degree before you jump into it! The University of Arkansas provides several useful resources that help future students prepare for their Bachelor’s degree studies.
If you want to know how much it roughly costs to pursue an undergraduate degree on campus, you can check our helpful Estimated Cost of Attendance table which lays out not only the tuition cost, but also living expenses, books, and other costs. If you want an even closer estimate for the specific program you’re interested in, write to the International Admissions Office at iao@uark.edu and you’ll receive information about the tuition and fees for your degree program.
Scholarships
The University of Arkansas also offers a range of academic scholarships that are available to both incoming freshman international students and domestic undergraduate students. These scholarships are very competitive and are available to students who plan to enter the University in the fall semester. If you want to be considered for a scholarship, you need to start preparing early!
All of the scholarships at the University of Arkansas are merit-based, which means that you need to submit SAT or ACT test scores to be considered for a scholarship. There is no minimum score for scholarship consideration, but you should aim for an SAT score above 1160. This means that you have to study hard and take the tests well in advance, so that if you do not receive a score that’s high enough, you can re-take the test and still make the early application deadline.
As the saying goes, “The early bird gets the worm!” and this is definitely true about undergraduate scholarships. The earlier you apply, the better your chances of getting a scholarship. Although the official admissions application deadline for submission is February 1, you should aim to have your scholarship application in by November 15, which is the early decision deadline. Your university application should include your transcripts and official SAT or ACT test scores by the time you submit the scholarship application.
A very important thing to note: scholarships require a separate application (that can be requested on the general admissions application form online)! This form needs to be submitted to the Academic Scholarship Office. Some scholarships are partial and a few are are full, however, it is likely that even if you receive several scholarships, there will still be some costs that you will have to cover out of pocket.
Here is an overview of the scholarships offered for incoming freshman!
New Freshman Scholarships
Chancellor’s Scholarship
- Annual award up to $8000 per year
- Renewable for 4 years (5 years for Architecture and MAT students)
- Awarded to top candidates from the applicant pool
Chancellor’s Community Scholarship
- Annual award up to $5000 per year
- Renewable for 4 years (5 years for Architecture and MAT students)
- Awarded to top applicants from the applicant pool who also have a demonstrable commitment to community service
Silas Hunt Scholarship
- Annual award up to $5000 or $8000 per year
- Renewable for 4 years (5 years for Architecture and MAT students)
- Awarded to students from underrepresented communities* who have demonstrated outstanding academic leadership qualities and potential.
Honors College Academy Scholarship
- Annual award up to $4000 per year
- Renewable for 4 years (5 years for Architecture and MAT students)
- Awarded to top candidates from the applicant pool
Razorback Bridge Scholarship
- Annual award up to $3500 per year
- Renewable for 4 years (5 years for Architecture and MAT students)
- Awarded to students from underrepresented communities* who have demonstrated outstanding academic leadership qualities and potential.
Leadership Scholarship
- Annual award up to $2000 per year
- Renewable for 4 years (5 years for Architecture and MAT students)
- Awarded to top candidates from the applicant pool
Make sure you consider all of the associated costs of attending a higher education institution in the U.S. because it’s important that you are prepared to start this journey. The University of Arkansas is first and foremost invested in student success–we want you to have a great experience here and to get the education you deserve; considering your finances is a big part of that, so do your research and start planning early!
