Tuition and Mandatory Fee Guarantee

The UAFS Tuition and Mandatory Fee Guarantee is a last-dollar scholarship program that ensures your tuition and mandatory fees are covered after applying eligible grants, scholarships, and other aid.

1. Be an Arkansas resident and high school graduate or GED recipient

2. Apply to UAFS as a degree-seeking undergraduate or a current degree-seeking student

3. Receive a Federal Pell Grant 4. Receive the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship

This program covers tuition and mandatory fees required for enrollment.

Non-mandatory fees, course-specific fees, housing, meal plans, and other personal expenses are not covered by the guarantee.

To qualify you must be an Arkansas resident, a high school graduate or GED recipient, apply to UAFS as an undergraduate or be a current degree-seeking student, and receive both a Federal Pell Grant and the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.

Yes, you must enroll full-time to be eligible for the program.

Both the Pell Grant and Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship are required for eligibility.

Transfer students are eligible; however, it does not stack with  the Smart Start Transfer Waiver.

Yes, current students are eligible if they meet the requirements.

There is no additional application for the program.

You must complete your FAFSA and ADHE Scholarship Application (SAMS) application and be admitted to UAFS before the undergraduate admissions deadline for your application term. Check the university’s academic calendar for specific deadlines.

Yes, completing the FAFSA is required to determine your eligibility for federal aid, including the Pell Grant.

Yes, completing the ADHE Scholarship Application (SAMS) is required to determine your eligibility for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.

If your financial situation changes, contact the UAFS Office of Financial Aid as soon as possible. We’ll review your updated FAFSA to determine your eligibility.

This program will pay the remaining balance of your tuition and mandatory fees after other aid is applied. It will not be available for other charges on your student bill and cannot be refunded.

The program currently covers tuition and fees for the fall and spring semesters only.

If your other aid fully covers tuition and fees, you can apply excess institutional scholarships (e.g., merit- or performance-based scholarships) to eligible expenses like UAFS housing, books from the on-campus bookstore, or meal plans. Excess funds not used toward eligible expenses are not refunded as cash.

Yes, if your institutional scholarships exceed the cost of tuition and fees, the remaining funds can be used for these expenses.

Yes, the program is renewable as long as you maintain eligibility, including full-time enrollment, satisfactory academic progress, and continued funding from the Pell Grant and Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.

If you lose eligibility for required aid, you may no longer qualify for the program. Contact the Office of Financial Aid to explore other funding options.

Yes, you must meet the satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements set by UAFS.

No. While the program minimizes tuition and fee costs, some students may choose to take out loans for other expenses like housing, books, or personal costs.

Consider on-campus resources like affordable housing and meal plans, use campus services, and stick to a budget.

Yes, the program adjusts to cover any increases in tuition and mandatory fees as long as you remain eligible.

Once your financial aid package is finalized, you’ll receive an award notification detailing the coverage.

Dropping below full-time status or withdrawing may result in loss of eligibility for the program. Contact the Office of Financial Aid before making changes to your schedule.

Reach out to the UAFS Office of Financial Aid at 479-788-7090 or FinAidFREEuafs for assistance with any questions or concerns.