Freshman Merit Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
Introductory overview Scholarships are awarded for a maximum of four years or until a student completes an undergraduate degree, whichever happens first. Recipients must be registered for at least 12 credit hours each semester. Renewal depends on earning 24 credit hours over the academic year and meeting the required grade-point average. If renewal criteria are not satisfied by the end of the spring term, students may use summer coursework to qualify. Renewal GPA requirements and housing stipend - Platinum, Gold, and Silver scholarships: minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA for renewal. - Bronze and Lion Pride scholarships: minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA for renewal. - Merit scholarship housing stipends apply to Lion's Den housing and are available for up to four years. Application process Your university admission application doubles as your application for merit awards and many foundation-funded scholarships. Some foundation scholarships require extra documentation (for example, a resume, personal essay, or references); for those, an optional, separate scholarship application is available. Important dates and deadlines - The scholarship application for the 2026–27 academic year will be accessible to eligible applicants in their application portal beginning Oct. 1, 2025. - Prestigious Scholarship deadline for Fall 2026: Jan. 12, 2026. - Preferred deadline for Myles Friedman Honors Scholarship candidates: Nov. 15, 2025.
Go to Scholarship Application