Making college affordable.
In reality, the majority of students at private colleges come from families earning less than $30,000 annually, and in Arkansas, they typically graduate owing less than students who attend state-supported colleges and universities. How? Financial aid!
One thing you’ll learn about Ozarks is that we have alumni and donors who realize the impact of “giving back.” Thanks in part to their generous support, we’re able to provide more than $11 million annually to help more than 90 percent of our students fund their education!
Ozarks-specific Scholarships
Merit Scholarships
The University works to create an academically diverse student body, and to ensure this diversity, it has created scholarships that require strong academic performance in high school or at another college. Learn More about Merit Scholarships
| HS GPA | SCHOLARSHIP | ANNUAL AMOUNT * |
|---|---|---|
| ≥ 3.75 | Trustee Scholarship | $14,000 |
| ≥ 3.5 & < 3.75 | Hurie Scholarship | $13,500 |
| ≥ 3.0 & <3.5 | Presidential Scholarship | $13,000 |
| ≥ 2.50 & < 3.0 | Dean’s Scholarship | $12,000 |
ART SCHOLARSHIP
Are you passionate about the arts? Students pursuing a major in the art disciplines have the opportunity to receive additional scholarship funding, thanks to a generous gift from the Windgate Foundation. This support helps expand art offerings, preparing students for careers in high-demand creative fields. These competitive scholarships recognize exceptional academic achievement and require an additional application. Best of all, students can stack these awards with institutional scholarships and renew them for up to four years. Take the next step toward your future in the arts. Learn More about the Art Scholarship
COMPUTER SCIENCE Scholarship
Computer science majors can receive additional scholarship funds thanks to a gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. The foundation established this gift to help create the University’s computer science major. These scholarships are competitive and require an additional application to select students whose academic achievement them apart. These scholarships can stack on top of institutional scholarships and are renewable for four years. Learn More about the Computer Science Scholarship
Endowed Scholarships
Endowed Scholarships – the University awards nearly $1.7 million per year in scholarships created by alumni and friends for the exclusive use of Ozarks students. Requirements vary for each scholarship—some depend on where you live, others specify a particular major, and some simply require being a ‘deserving student.’ It’s important to note that you do not apply for these scholarships separately, your admission counselor, after getting to know you, will help the financial aid staff in identifying possible scholarships. Learn More about Endowed Scholarships
Frontier Scholarship
University of the Ozarks created the Frontier Scholarship in 2016 to help high-achieving and dedicated students from low and middle income families earn a top-quality bachelor’s degree by reducing out-of-pocket costs. This competitive scholarship program requires an additional application and an interview to select students whose academic achievement, leadership skills, potential, and passion for Ozarks set them apart. The Frontier application opens on December 15th and will close on January 30th. Learn More about the Frontier Scholarship
FULL-NEED TUITION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
We strive to keep an Ozarks education affordable and accessible for local students to help minimize their debt. We offer our full-need tuition scholarship program to Arkansas students from Johnson, Logan, Franklin, Madison, Newton, and Pope counties. The University covers direct tuition costs after applying all federal and state aid, including U.S. Department of Education Direct Subsidized Loans. The scholarship does not cover books or room and board. Learn More about the Full-Need Scholarship Program
Hazel Carr Robson SCHOLARSHIP
The Hazel Carr Robson Scholarship, established by Helen Walton to honor her mother’s legacy, offers residents of Rogers County, Oklahoma, a generous four-year award covering full attendance costs at the University of the Ozarks. Recipients reflect the values of integrity and academic excellence while benefiting from this transformative opportunity. Learn More about the Hazel Carr Robson Scholarship
NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS
Leaders founded the University in 1834 to serve the community, support humanity, and prepare young people for the future. Often students need financial support greater than the resources provided by their family. The University, using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Institutional Financial Need Application, will work with you and your family to find additional funding in the form of need-based aid. Learn about Need-Based Scholarships
TEACHING EXCELLENCE IN ARKANSAS CHALLENGE (TEACH) LOAN/SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Students pursuing an education major or minor may receive up to $5,000 a year, renewable for four years. This competitive scholarship program requires an additional application. Each year a limited number of TEACH Awards will be available to new first year and transfer students at University of the Ozarks. Eligible students can combine the TEACH Award with other loans or scholarships up to the full cost of attendance. While initially awarded as a loan, graduates who go on to teach in Arkansas for at least four years can have the loan forgiven or canceled, thus acting as a scholarship for the student. Learn More about TEACH Loan/Scholarship Program
General Scholarships
PRESBYTERIAN SCHOLARSHIPS
The Presbyterian Church is looking for students who maintain a 2.5 GPA or above and demonstrate financial need. There is also an opportunity for a parent loan, which offers a low interest rate. Presbyterian families do not have to pay fees. Learn More about Presbyterian Scholarships
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION BENEFITS
Veterans, surviving spouses, and children of deceased or fully disabled service members can receive VA benefits. Prospective students should receive approval from an Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within the Military Service prior to enrolling. Those eligible should contact the nearest Veterans Administration Regional Office well in advance of enrollment for assistance in securing benefits or visit U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. For more information regarding VA benefits, see our Veteran Benefits page, contact the Office of Administrative Services by emailing oas@ozarks.edu, calling 479-979-1201 or visiting the OAS office located in the Mabee Administration Building.
The Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program is a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. The program allows colleges and universities in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public, in-state, undergraduate tuition rate. The university can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.
Federal Aid
Almost every domestic student is eligible for some type of federal financial aid. You may qualify for any of several federal, state, or university funded grants if you meet certain income requirements. These grants are gifts of money you can use to pay your direct costs…you do not have to pay it back. If you don’t qualify for a grant, you may still qualify for a federal subsidized loan. If you take out one of these loans, you don’t start to accrue interest on the money you borrow until you are out of school. Even those who don’t qualify for need-based aid might qualify for an unsubsidized loan, which means you don’t have to make loan payments until you finish school.
State Aid
Many states offer varying support for college. If you are an Arkansas resident (60% of our students call Arkansas home) you may be eligible for the Arkansas Challenge Award. The state awards the scholarship on a tiered, class-based system. In the freshman year, a student can receive $1,000 and by the time they are a senior, they may receive $5,000. Unlike many other institutions that assume the increase is available to cover tuition increases or replace other aid – at Ozarks, we will work with each student to try and decrease his or her loan commitments, as the state increases the award.
SCHOLARSHIPS LEADING TO GRADUATION FOR ARKANSANS (SLGFA)
Completion scholarship program to fund scholarships to students who had previously dropped out of school and needed financial aid to complete their course of study. Learn More about SLGFA
