Entering Freshman

How to apply for Entering Freshman Academic Scholarships:
  1. Submit an admission application and required documentation to Admissions by January 26, 2026 (Achievement) or May 4, 2026 (University & Future Leaders). For information about the Admission application, visit the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Services.
  2. Meet all of the eligibility criteria of the 2026-2027 Academic Scholarship Policy.

2026-2027 UCA Freshman Academic & Honors College Scholarships

 ScholarshipRequirementsAward BreakdownAnnual Total AwardDeadline







Honors


Schedler Honors College**




Minimum 3.75 Cumulative High School GPA** (6th Semester)

Apply online beginning
September 1 and provide:
2 references
2 essays
Tuition & Fee Award: $5,000
Housing Award: $1,500
Private Room Upgrade:
$2,000*
Annual Stipend: $2,000


$10,500






January 26, 2026


Schedler Honors Program**
Tuition & Fee Award: $5,000
Housing Award: $1,500
Private Room Upgrade:
$2,000*
Annual Stipend: $1,000


$9,500





Institutional
AchievementMinimum 4.00 Cumulative High School GPA (6th/7th Semester)Tuition & Fee Award: $5,000
Housing Award: $1,500
$6,500January 26, 2026
UniversityMinimum 3.75 Cumulative High School GPA (6th/7th Semester)Tuition & Fee Award: $3,500
Housing Award: $1,000
$4,500


May 4, 2026
Future LeadersMinimum 3.50 Cumulative High School GPA (6th/7th Semester)Tuition & Fee Award: $1,000
Housing Award: $1,000
$2,000
**To apply, students must be admitted to the University and complete the application to the Schedler Honors College and/or Schedler Honors Program at uca.edu/honors by the deadline. 80 students will be selected to join the Schedler Honors College and an additional 40 will be selected to join the Schedler Honors Program. Students will also receive a private room upgrade each semester they reside in Honors housing. If accepted to an Honors Program, the Honors College Scholarship will take the place of whichever Freshman Academic Scholarship you are offered.

*The dollar amount for the Honors Private Room Upgrade is determined by the difference between Tier 1 and Tier 3 housing each year. The listed amount is an estimate, but the full cost of the upgrade will be covered.

Click here for a more detailed 2026-2027 Scholarship Chart.

Students must meet enrollment and renewal requirements each semester.  Please use the following link for the 2026-2027 UCA Freshman Academic Scholarship Policy information.  Renewal information can be found on the second page of the policy.

The UCA Honors College Application is now open. To apply and for more information about the 2026-2027 Honors College Scholarships, visit https://uca.edu/honors/.



Additional Freshman Academic Scholarship Information
  • Student must be a UCA first-time entering undergraduate student.
  • Student must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  • Students must submit all required documentation to the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Services by the applicable deadline.
  • If a student is graduating from high school early, a 4th or 5th-semester transcript will be considered.
  • All institutional scholarships are highly competitive and awarded based on academic performance and available funds.
  • Scholarships are for the duration of 8 consecutive fall and spring semesters or through completion of a first bachelor’s degree, whichever occurs first.
  • Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 15 UCA credit hours as of the 8th class day each fall and spring semester during the term of their scholarship.
  • Students must remain in good academic standing as described in the current UCA Undergraduate Bulletin.
  • Students must live in University housing to receive the housing award and, therefore, the annual total award. Click here to learn more about University housing options.
  • Academic scholarships will only apply to charges for in-state tuition, room/board, and mandatory fees directly assessed by the University. The housing award will only apply to housing charges directly assessed by the University.
  • Please see the 2026-2027 Academic Scholarship Policy at uca.edu/scholarships/policies for all scholarship requirements.

 

Additional Schedler Honors College Scholarship Information
  • To be considered for the Schedler Honors College and/or Schedler Honors Program, students must be admitted to UCA, submit all required documentation to the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Services, and complete the application to the Schedler Honors College and/or Schedler Honors Program at uca.edu/honors by the deadline. Please contact the Honors College at honors@uca.edu or 501-450-3198 with any questions or for more information regarding these scholarships.