Arkansas Tech University has a "No Strings Attached" approach to covering the cost
of your education. While other universities may claim a debt-free option via a last-dollar scholarship, these scholarships are limited to Pell-eligible students and may only cover the
cost of tuition and fees after depleting your state and federal financial aid. This
method may leave you responsible for housing, meals, books, and other out-of-pocket
expenses because the full cost of attending college extends beyond tuition and fees.
ATU doesn’t need a last-dollar scholarship to cover tuition and mandatory fees…because
we’re already one of the more affordable universities in the state! In fact, Arkansas Tech University is the only public, four-year institution in Arkansas that did not increase tuition, fees or
housing costs for 2024-25 (read more here).
Unlike those last-dollar scholarships with strict requirements, ATU offers five easy
pathways to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees, and one of these five pathways
could pay for you.
The first pathway relies completely on federal aid provided by a maximum Pell grant as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and state aid awarded by the Arkansas Academic Challenge and Challenge Plus scholarship program.
Pathway 1: Pell-Grant, Academic Challenge, and Challenge Plus
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Pathways 2, 3, and 4 utilize a combination of the Pell grant as determined by the FAFSA and ATU Academic Scholarship Levels 3, 4, or 5.
Pathway 2: Pell-Grant & Level 3 Academic Scholarship
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Pathway 3: Pell Grant & Level 4 Academic Scholarship
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Pathway 4: Pell Grant & Level 5 Academic Scholarship
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Finally, Pathway 5 is a combination of ATU’s top academic scholarship level and the AR Academic Challenge and Challenge Plus scholarships.
Pathway 5: Academic Challenge, Challenge Plus, and Level 5 Academic Scholarship
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Other schools will have specific requirements, check out the chart below to see what they typically require vs. ATU.
Them |
Us |
|
Be an Arkansas Resident |
No Residency Requirement |
|
Earn At or Below a Specific Income |
No Income Level Specified |
|
Pell-eligible per a Completed FAFSA |
No Eligibility Requirement |
|
Must Apply for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship through ADHE |
No Application Required (though it is encouraged) |
|
Work-Study Requirements |
No Requirements for Work-Study |
|
Required Service Hours or Volunteer Work |
No Required Service Hours or Volunteer Work |
It’s always FREE for First-time entering Freshmen to apply to ATU, and you're automatically considered for Academic Scholarships when you’re admitted.
No need to:
Apply to ATU today and you’ll see what scholarships you qualify for and be able to compare financial aid packages and cost of attendance. It’s clear that at ATU, there are no strings attached, and that’s how we’ve always operated.
A: A last-dollar scholarship is just that…institutions apply every “last dollar” of your financial aid and scholarship package before they will pay off the remaining balance of your tuition and fees.
A: Arkansas Tech University understands that cost-savings is vital for our prospective students and their families. While our institution does not offer a last-dollar scholarship, we encourage you to submit an application for admission to learn what scholarships you may qualify for. From there, you can compare financial aid packages as well as the cost of attendance (to include not only tuition and fees but also housing, meal plan, books, etc.) to determine the best deal.
A: A last-dollar scholarship usually covers the cost of tuition and fees only after applying federal, state, and institutional financial aid to your account balance. This method may leave you responsible for housing, meals, books, and other out-of-pocket expenses that might have been covered by other forms of aid. Plus, there are typically many requirements you must meet in order to even qualify for a last-dollar scholarship.
A: At Arkansas Tech University, we believe in giving you the financial flexibility to make the most of your college experience. That’s why we apply institutional scholarship funds you’ve earned towards tuition and fees first, before applying state and federal aid, potentially leaving you with money to pay for things like housing, meals, and books. No Strings Attached.
A: While some institutions are advertising free tuition in the form of a last-dollar scholarship, we encourage prospective students to read the fine print. Additional requirements at these institutions to receive and keep that scholarship may include but are not limited to:
A: No, you are not required to fill out the FAFSA to be eligible to receive an Academic Scholarship from ATU, but you really should fill it out. The FAFSA is the application for grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. With the changes for the 2024-25 school year, we anticipate many more students will be eligible for Pell Grants and need-based aid like work-study and/or loans, which means the Department of Education will pay the interest while you are in school!
If you need help completing the FAFSA, you can email the Arkansas Tech University Financial Aid Office at fa.help@atu.edu, or give us a call at (479) 968-0399.
A: It’s easy to apply for Academic Scholarships at ATU, because your application for admission also serves as your scholarship application. ATU Academic Scholarships are a flat-rate amount and are awarded based on your high-school GPA. There is no application fee and no essay to complete. Simply fill out the online undergraduate application for admission and send the ATU Office of Admissions a current copy of your high school transcript by the March 1 scholarship deadline.
A: There is no tuition hour cap for these scholarships. Your scholarship will be combined with any other aid for which you’ve applied and are eligible. Your total aid package will be applied to all your charges, not only tuition and fees. You must enroll in at least 15 hours each term to get your scholarship.
Review the official renewal requirements
A: Yes, you can stack your ATU Academic Scholarship with other scholarships…up to the cost of attendance. So be sure to apply for the Arkansas Academic Challenge (Lottery) Scholarship and any other private scholarships you might be eligible to receive. Ask your high school counselor about any community scholarships available to students at your school. And don’t forget to complete the ATU Foundation Scholarship application by the March 1 deadline. You can find additional information and a link to the application on our website at
Get More Info. & Apply
A: We’re so glad you asked! Below are 5 quick and easy steps to stretch your dollar at ATU.
Submit ATU’s free application for admission.
Send a current copy of your high school transcript to the ATU Office of Admissions by the March 1 scholarship deadline.
Accept your ATU Academic Scholarship (on or before the deadline) using the link in your offer email or the QR code in the offer letter.
Complete the ATU Foundation Scholarship application by the March 1 deadline.
Explore other scholarship opportunities through the ATU Office of Financial Aid.