Arkansas Future Grant (ArFuture)
Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE)
Covers tuition and mandatory fees for STEM and high-demand certificate and associate degree programs at Arkansas public colleges, first come, first served.
- How much
- Tuition and general mandatory fees
- Who qualifies
- Graduated from an Arkansas public, private or home school or Arkansas GED; or lived in Arkansas for the 3 years before applying with an out-of-state diploma/equivalency. No associate degree yet. Enrolled at an approved Arkansas public institution in an eligible certificate or associate program. Grant may convert to a loan if mentoring, community service, or 3-year in-state residence/employment conditions in the rules aren't met.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads, adults going back to school, trade school students
- For STEM, state or regional high-demand fields students
- When to apply
- Due January 10, 2027 Each term; July 1 for fall, January 10 for spring
- How to apply
- Complete the FAFSA, then apply in your SAMS account at sams.adhe.edu by July 1 for fall or January 10 for spring
- Funds are first come, first served
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + state application
- Last checked
- October 23, 2026, against the official page (sams.adhe.edu), page 2 and page 3
The details
Last-dollar grant: equals tuition, fees and other charges minus state scholarships, federal aid and private scholarships. At a four-year institution, the amount is calculated from the average cost at Arkansas two-year colleges (ADHE's ACCESS page puts this at $3,800). Full- or part-time students in an eligible STEM, state high-demand, or regionally high-demand certificate or associate program (see Explore AR Careers for the list). Continues until an associate degree, 5 semesters of funding (the ACCESS Act changes this to 75 credit hours), or failure to keep satisfactory academic progress. The Coordinating Board rules (2025 Policy Book, effective Oct 5, 2024) also require monthly mentoring, 10 hours of community service each semester, and living and working in Arkansas for 3 consecutive years starting within 6 months of finishing; otherwise the grant converts to a loan. ADHE's current program page doesn't mention those conditions.
More money from Arkansas
- Governor's Scholars Program - Distinguished ScholarsUp to $10,000 per academic year for 4 years ($40,000 total)
- Arkansas Washington Center ScholarshipUp to $6,000 (one-time)
- Arkansas Academic Challenge ScholarshipYear 1 $2,000; Years 2-3 $4,000; Year 4 $5,000 at a four-year college (two-year: $2,000 / $3,000 / $1,500 5th semester); plus Challenge PLUS for SAI 7,999 or below, up to $2,500 per semester total
- Governor's Scholars Program - Achievement ScholarsUp to $5,000 per academic year for 4 years ($20,000 total)
- Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)Up to $4,000 (spring-summer or spring-fall) or $2,750 (spring only), incl. student stipend up to $1,250
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.