Students pursing high-demand or STEM degrees at University of Arkansas Cossatot may now complete the Arkansas Future (ArFuture) grant program application.

ArFuture was created to promote higher education, increase the skills and education of Arkansas’s workforce, and attract students to high-demand, high-wage occupations.

This grant will cover tuition and fees for eligible students in qualifying associate and certificate programs at public higher education institutions.

This grant is significant because it covers some programs that are not eligible for Federal Student Aid.

Students seeking the following degrees need to apply for ArFuture by July 1: 

The grant is open to every person who has graduated from an Arkansas high school, Arkansas homeschool, GED program, or anyone who has a high school diploma and has lived in Arkansas for the last three years, regardless of financial need. Only students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree are eligible.

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://fafsa.ed.gov and apply through ADHE’s online YOUniversal scholarship portal at http://scholarships.adhe.edu.

 “The great thing about ArFuture,” said ADHE Director Dr. Maria Markham, “is that it is available to both part-time and full-time students. Also, students directly out of high school and Arkansans who have been out of school for years can qualify.”

The grant program has mentoring and community service requirements. Research shows a greater chance of success if students are engaged in their professional fields and communities.

ArFuture will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis and the application period has been extended until July 1. Deadlines for other programs, such as the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship, have been extended until June 15.