The Department of Education recently announced a delay in the delivery of 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data to colleges and universities nationally. This delay will not affect the amount of federal financial aid each student will receive.

"We know that these delays have some parents and students concerned," said Suzanne McCray, vice provost of Enrollment Services. "We want to make the financial aid process as seamless as possible, and we are working to send financial aid updates out as quickly as we can once we receive information from the Department of Education. Our scholarship offers will continue to go out in a timely fashion, just as they always have, and we will be standing by to help students and families in every way we can."

Completing the FAFSA

Current U of A students and new students should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible to prepare for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year. Time also remains for current students to complete the FAFSA for 2023-2024 in order to be considered for need-based scholarships.

Beginning later this spring, the Department of Education will issue each applicant a FAFSA Submission Summary (formerly called a Student Aid Report). This summary will outline the amount of federal aid each student is eligible to receive. Following the release of FAFSA data to the university, the Office of Financial Aid will outline each student's eligible federal aid, along with other institutional aid offered, to create a Financial Aid Notification for current and incoming students.

University Scholarships for Current Students

The university-wide scholarship deadline for current student and departmental scholarships is 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 15. Interested students should visit the Academic Scholarship Office online to learn more about opportunities that are available, including those offered by the Arkansas Alumni Association, the Division of Student Affairs and the academic colleges.

The scholarship application for current students includes: 1) annual completion of the general application, 2) an upload of the each applicant's academic record and FAFSA information for the current aid year and 3) additional information each applicant provides when also applying for additional opportunities - this may include a statement of financial need or other supporting information.

In some cases, incoming new students are also eligible for college and departmental scholarships and can be considered for need-based scholarships based on fee waiver information collected during the admissions application process, in lieu of FAFSA information. More information is available online and questions may be addressed to scholars@uark.edu.

The Office of Financial Aid is available to support current and incoming students during the FAFSA completion process. Visit finaid.uark.edu to connect with a financial aid counselor.