The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith is launching a one-time Summer Scholarship initiative that will award $100 per credit hour to all eligible degree-seeking students who register for summer courses by May 1, 2025.

The scholarship will be automatically applied to student accounts based on enrollment in summer classes as of May 1. To qualify, students must be pursuing a degree at UAFS and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0. Scholarships will be awarded in order of enrollment and are subject to available funding.
 

"Summer is the perfect time for students to catch up or get ahead for the new semester,” said Jennifer Holland, executive director for student retention. 

“Whether students need to retake a course, lighten their fall or spring course load, or simply want to accelerate their path to graduation, this scholarship program offers a valuable opportunity. By easing the financial burden, we hope more students can take advantage of summer classes."

Typically, more than 750 current UAFS students register for summer courses before May 1. The university estimates awarding up to $500,000 in these summer scholarships, funded by the UAFS Foundation. 

Summer registration is open now, with summer classes beginning June 2.

In addition to the new scholarship, students may also benefit from changes to federal Pell Grant regulations that allow eligible students to receive up to 150% of their annual Pell Grant award. This means that students who qualified for Pell during the fall and/or spring may also qualify for summer aid, making classes even more affordable.

To be eligible for summer Pell, students must have a valid 2024-2025 FAFSA on file, meet satisfactory academic progress, and enroll in degree-pursuant courses, among other federal requirements listed here: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell

For more information, students should contact the Financial Aid office at: finaid@uafs.edu.