CPL Scholarships and Financial Support

Cost is a common concern for adults returning to school. While UAFS does not offer scholarships awarded because a student earns Credit for Prior Learning, many non-traditional students qualify for financial support that can lower the cost of completing a degree.

Commonly used options include community and tribal scholarships, Arkansas grants, waiver programs such as the UAFS Smart Choice Tuition Waiver, and UAFS Foundation awards. Qualified full-time students may also be eligible for UAFS merit scholarships.

UAFS also maintains a small Credit for Prior Learning Scholarship Fund that helps cover CPL-related fees, such as Challenge Exams and portfolio assessments. Your CPL advisor and the financial aid team will help you review which opportunities fit your goals and build a plan that supports your budget.

How CPL saves you money

Credit for Prior Learning can reduce the number of courses you need to take, which lowers tuition and shortens your path to a degree. When your experience counts toward degree requirements, you may save thousands of dollars in tuition and months of time compared to a traditional path. Many adult learners find that CPL makes returning to school far more affordable and achievable than they expected.

Scholarships for Adult and Non-traditional students

Many scholarships support students who return to finish a degree, build new skills, or advance in their careers. These awards often pair well with CPL because both help reduce the total cost of earning your degree.

Scholarship categories that often benefit CPL students include:

Adult and returning student scholarships
Workforce and industry-aligned scholarships
Tribal and community-based scholarships
Military and veteran scholarships
Degree-completion and finish-line scholarships

Each award has its own eligibility criteria. To ensure you have accurate and up-to-date information, all scholarship details are maintained on the UAFS Non-Traditional Scholarships page.

Explore Non-Traditional Scholarships

State and Institutional Aid

Many adult learners can qualify for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship and/or UAFS institutional aid. Our financial aid staff will help you understand which options apply to your situation and how CPL influences your degree plan and remaining costs.

Support for Working Adults

If your employer offers tuition assistance, you can use it toward your UAFS degree. CPL can make employer funding stretch even further by reducing the number of remaining courses. Many working adults complete their degree for less than they expected once these benefits are applied.

Military and Veteran Benefits

Service members and veterans can combine CPL with military education benefits to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. Credit awarded through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) or the Air University (formerly Community College of the Air Force) may accelerate your path to graduation. UAFS is recognized as a Military Friendly School and is committed to supporting those who serve.

Visit UAFS Military and Veteran Office

Planning to Minimize Debt

Whether you return to school full-time or part-time, UAFS can help you create an affordable plan. While we cannot guarantee that students will not take out loans, our goal is to help you graduate with as little debt as possible. Your advisor will walk you through available resources and support you in building a realistic financial plan.

UAFS also offers a payment plan option that allows you to divide your tuition and fees into smaller monthly payments. This can ease the upfront cost of starting your degree and help you stay on track without relying solely on loans.

Review Payment Plan Options