Governor's Scholars Program - Achievement Scholars
Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE)
Up to $5,000 a year for four years ($20,000) for Arkansas seniors graduating with a Diploma of Distinction or an associate degree, or the top student in a county without a Distinguished Scholar.
- How much
- Up to $5,000 per academic year for 4 years ($20,000 total)
- Who qualifies
- Bona fide Arkansas resident for 12 months; graduating high school senior with a Diploma of Distinction (public high school only), an associate degree by the summer after graduation, or top county ranking (must apply for Academic Challenge); ACT or SAT taken before the deadline; FAFSA (not for EAD holders); full-time enrollment.
- For high school seniors, students starting college
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident (or the student or a parent holds an Employment Authorization Document)
- When to apply
- Due July 1, 2027 Annual; July 1 after high school graduation
- How to apply
- Complete the FAFSA, take the ACT or SAT, and apply in your SAMS account at sams.adhe.edu by July 1 after senior year
- Diploma of Distinction completion data is reported to ADHE by mid-July
- Awards are expected by August 1
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + state application + test scores
- Last checked
- October 23, 2026, against the official page (sams.adhe.edu), page 2 and page 3
The details
Pays tuition, mandatory fees, room and board up to $5,000 per academic year for 4 years. Three ways to qualify: (1) graduate from an Arkansas public high school with a Diploma of Distinction (coursework, credentials and exams completed by the end of spring; summer classes don't count); (2) earn an associate degree by the end of the summer after high school graduation; or (3) be the highest-scoring senior (ACT/SAT, GPA, class rank) who applied for Academic Challenge in an Arkansas county where no Governor's Distinguished Scholar was selected. Can be combined with Academic Challenge (four-year: Challenge $2,000/$4,000/$4,000/$5,000 plus $5,000 each year; two-year: $2,000+$5,000, $3,000+$5,000, 5th semester $1,000+$2,500). Renewal: 3.00 cumulative GPA; 27 hours the first year and 30 each year after; 15 hours per semester (12 the first semester). Unused senior-year semesters can be used for graduate school.
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
- 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
- Arkansas Workforce Challenge ScholarshipUp to $3,000 per program (up to $1,500 for 80-179 clock-hour programs)
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.