• First, we apply your Pell Grant, Arkansas Challenge/Lottery Scholarship, and other financial aid toward your tuition and fees.
• Then, the Arkansas Promise Plus program covers any remaining tuition costs—up to 15 credit hours per semester.
• It will also cover housing costs for the first-year only if you choose to live on campus.

• Voluntary Meal Plan can be used at the campus cafeteria and on-campus food vendors
• Promise Plus Perks can be used at Textbook Brokers as well as the Team Stores located in Centennial Bank Stadium, First National Bank Arena, and Tomlinson Stadium

To be eligible, students must:

• Be Arkansas residents
• Have at least a 19 ACT score
• Have a family income of $70,000 or less (based on Adjusted Gross Income)

Important:

The Arkansas Promise Plus Scholarship is only available to traditional, on-campus students. A-State Online students are eligible for this program.

STEP ONE: Apply to A-State

Apply for admission to Arkansas State University. You can apply immediately at AState.edu/Apply.

STEP TWO: Complete the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship Application

Apply online at sams.adhe.edu.

STEP THREE: Submit the FAFSA

The new, simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens October 1, 2025.
Complete it at studentaid.gov.

We recommend finishing all three steps by November 1, 2025 for the best chance to enroll.

To stay eligible each year, students must:

• Complete at least 30 credit hours at Arkansas State University
• Maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA
• Submit the FAFSA annually at studentaid.gov and meet the income requirements.
• Meet all requirements for the Arkansas Challenge or Lottery Scholarship

To qualify for the Arkansas Promise Plus:

• Your family income is $70,000 or less (based on the Adjusted Gross Income or AGI from federal income tax form)
• You must be a resident of the state of Arkansas, as defined by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board Policy, Section 5.10
• Accepted for admission at Arkansas State University
• Complete the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship application
• Meet Federal Title IV eligibility criteria
• Annually complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by June 1 each year
• Complete 15 credit hours each semester for a 30-hour total each academic year
• Maintain a grade-point average of 2.5

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid allows A-State to determine your eligibility for need-based aid, and is required by the federal government for all federal financial aid that includes grants (like the Pell Grant), scholarships and loans. Along with missing out on Arkansas Promise Plus, students and their families are likely not maximizing the financial aid they could qualify for.

A-State’s role is to support each individual with the scholarship necessary to cover up to 15 hours of tuition and basic fees (Athletic and Student Activity Fees). The amount will vary depending upon how much in federal and state grants each student qualifies for.

When the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery was established in 2009, Arkansas State University was among the first to supplement the ASL’s annual Academic Challenge Scholarships with what was then known and trademarked as the Arkansas Promise Scholarship starting in 2010-11. Over the years, A-State has provided other opportunities based upon need. The main difference between the past scholarships and the Arkansas Promise Plus is the additional support for living on-campus.