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$3M in Scholarships Available to UAFS Students
Written By: Rachel Putman
Close to $3 million in private, donor-funded scholarships are available to University of Arkansas – Fort Smith students through the Lion’s Share scholarship portal, and university officials are urging students to complete required applications as soon as possible to maximize their financial aid offers for the 2026-27 academic year.
Complete your Lions Share profile
Lion’s Share connects eligible UAFS students with UAFS Foundation scholarship opportunities through a single online profile. By completing or updating their profile, students are automatically matched with scholarships they may qualify for.
The application cycle for continuing UAFS students opened in October 2025 and will remain available through June 1, 2026. While the deadline is several months away, financial aid officials encourage students not to wait.
“Lion’s Share is an incredible opportunity for our students because one application can open the door to so many privately funded scholarships,” said Caleb Cash-Tobey, assistant director of scholarships. “We truly want every student to have access to a UAFS education, and that starts with completing their scholarship profile, filing the FAFSA, and submitting their SAMS applications as early as they can. Each step matters, and together they can make a real difference.”
Students may find more information on Lion’s Share at https://uafs.edu/tuition-and-aid/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/lions-share.php. *
The portal is available to enrolled UAFS students, who must log in using their UAFS account credentials. Admitted student may access their 2026-27 Scholarship Application through their Admissions Application Portal.
In addition to Lion’s Share, the Arkansas Division of Higher Education’s Student Aid Management System, or SAMS, is open for state scholarship applications at https://sams.adhe.edu/Scholarship. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, is available at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. University officials emphasized that SAMS and FAFSA must be completed separately form Lions Share and all three are incredibly important.
Studies show that U.S. college students leave up to $4.4 Billion on the table each year in Pell Grants alone, simply because they didn't complete their FAFSA in time.
With Federal, State, and private aid applied, some students may owe nothing out of pocket in tuition and mandatory fees. In fact, at UAFS, eligible Arkansas students who qualify for both Pell and Arkansas Challenge are guaranteed to have their tuition and mandatory fees completely covered thanks to the UAFS Tuition and Fee Guarantee.
For additional information about scholarships and financial aid, students may contact the Financial Aid & Veterans Benefits Office.
Complete your Lions Share profile
*Lion’s Share is exclusively for UAFS Foundation scholarships. Separate applications are required for university-awarded scholarships, including merit-based and prestigious awards. New students entering UAFS for the 2026-27 academic year complete Foundation scholarship matching through the Admissions Status Portal as part of the admissions process.
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- Financial Aid