LITTLE ROCK — To ensure qualified Arkansas students do not experience a notification delay regarding much-needed scholarships, the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Higher Education will conditionally approve state scholarships while the federal government addresses problems associated with the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
“There is no question that higher education serves an important role in success beyond high school, and for many students, furthering their education is not possible without state and federal financial assistance,” Dr. Ken Warden, ADHE commissioner, said. “Arkansas students, however, should not be penalized or face needless worry regarding funding because of improper planning by the federal government. We are pleased to provide reassurance to these students, who can feel confident in their state applications.”
The federal government released the 2024-2025 FAFSA form on December 31, 2023; however, the release has resulted in challenges and issues for Arkansas students and their families. Problems stem from the limited and intermittent windows of time available for students to access their application, as well as multiple technical issues that have occurred during students’ attempts to complete the form. Additionally, state financial aid programs have been affected procedurally by the delay in receiving FAFSA information.
Between 18,000 and 25,000 Arkansas students apply each year for state scholarships, such as the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship and the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship. The application process requires students to complete the FAFSA. The deadline to apply for the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship remains March 1, and July 1 is the deadline for the other state scholarships. Because of issues with the federal FAFSA application, students conditionally approved have until August 1, 2024, to complete the FAFSA portion to finalize the award.
To learn more about available scholarships, visit https://sams.adhe.edu/.