Pursuing any college degree requires substanial commitments. Undoubtedly, one of these commitments involves money. While we have all seen reports concerning the increasing costs of higher education, don't let them discourage you in working toward your college degree. After all, your future is at stake.
Henderson offers a large number of achievement based scholarships. These scholarships are awarded in a competitive manner as funds are available. Students are encouraged to apply early and must be admitted to the University in order to receive consideration. Complete information regarding awards, application details, and eligibility requirements may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid.
Available scholarships include:
The Distinguished Freshman Scholarship is an academic achievement based award in the amount of $11,000/year. It is reserved for first-time freshmen with an ACT score of 30-36 and a high school GPA of at least 3.5.
An academic achievement basedaward, the Presidential Excellence Scholarship is for first-time freshmen in the amount of $8,000/year. Applicants should have an ACT score of at least 27-29 and a high school GPA of at least 3.25.
Another academic achievement based award, the University Centurium Scholarship is for first-time freshmen with an ACT score of 24-26 and a high school GPA of at least 3.25. The amount of the award is $5000/year.
The Red & Gray Success Scholarship is an academic achievement based award with an initial amount of $2000/year. The award amount can be increased in successive years by maintaining at least a 3.25 GPA.
First-time freshmen that graduate in the top 10% of their high school class are eligible for the Top Ten Percent award. Additional minimal requirements include an ACT score of 19 and a GPA of 3.0. The amount of the award is $2000/year.
The Reddie Spirit Leadership Award is for first-time freshmen who have taken on various leadership roles. The award is in the amount of $1000/year and requires a minimum high school GPA of 2.75.
For out-of-state, first-time freshmen, the Beyond the Boundaries scholarshp is awarded in the amount of $3000/year. Applicants should have a minimum ACT of 25 and a high school GPA of 3.25.
An academic achievement based award for select transfer students, the Community College Transfer Scholarship is available for up to four consecutive semesters in the amount o $5,000/year.
The Access Community College Scholarship is available to select transfer students. The award is in the amount of $3,000/year for upto six consecutive semesters. The aggregate award will not exceed $6,000.
In addition to the university wide scholarships, the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science offers a number of awards to those specifically majoring in computer science. Application for these awards is not necessary as recipients are recommended by faculty within the department.
Scholarships are also available through the Henderson State University Alumni Association. This includes the Legacy Scholarship for incoming students and a number of additional scholarships for currently enrolled Henderson students.Obtain additional information by contacting the Office of Alumni Services.
In addition to the federal government, the state of Arkansas also has financial aid programs available. These include:
The Academic Challenge Scholarship is both need- and achievement based. Application is open to high school seniors that have completed the FAFSA by June 1.
An achievement-based scholarship award, the Governor's Scholars Program is open to top ranked students in each of Arkansas' 75 counties. An ACT score of at least 27 or an academic GPA of 3.5 is required.
The Workforce Improvement Grant is need-based and is open to eligible students over the age of 24 who have filed a FAFSA application. Applicants must contact the financial aid office for eligibility details.
The United States Government is the single largest provider of financial aid for higher education. Since most federal aid is need-based, applicants must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form in order to determine eligibility. Students may apply for federal financial aid online by completing the FAFSA application at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Applications should be completed after January 1 of the year you plan to enroll in the college. Consider applying early for priority consideration.
Options available for federal aid include but are not limited to:
The Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to help undergraduate students defray the cost of education.
The work-study program provides students with a need-based award for possible employment as part of their aid package.
Stafford Loans may be either subsidized or unsubsidized by the federal government. In either case, the student is responsible for repayment of the loan amount.
The PLUS loan is designated for parents of dependent students and is based upon creditworthiness.
The National SMART Grant provides aid for third an fourth year undergraduates. This grant is given to full-time students that are U.S. citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and are majoring in Computer Science, among other selected fields.